"When we rescued her from a puppy mill, we thought she was only missing one leg because her fur was so matted, we didn’t realize the other one was gone, too," she added. "She was kept as a breeder, and to breed, she didn’t need to be able to walk."

"China is one lucky dog," she added as the fluffy ball of white energy bounded off in search of another adventure in the shelter’s fenced-in yard. "She’s a survivor."

"She only knows one speed and that’s to run because if she stops, she’ll fall over," said China’s "foster mother," Carol Sumbry, who she has been living with since being rescued with 20 other dogs back in February.

Beyond surviving, China is lucky for another reason.

Although it seems she can make do with two of the usual four limbs - China is missing her front left leg and her back right leg - as she ages, that may not be the case.

To ease her way, a spiffy mode of transportation has been created just for her.

Generous donors contributed $200 to buy a used cart for China, Sparapani said.

"It was custom fitted for her," she noted as Sumbry lowered China into the black sling hung between the four wheels that will serve as her legs.

In a heartbeat, China is off and running, wheels flying, causing smiles all around.

"She needs a set of brakes," Sumbry said with a laugh as China careened around the shelter parking lot, obviously enjoying herself. "She isn’t too crazy about getting into it, but once she is, she has fun."

China is lucky in another sense, too.

She has a family waiting to give her a loving home.