Running rampant thanks to his prosthetic front legs, a retriever who once tortured drug cartel members is living what seems like a dog’s dream: not only is he adored by everyone around him, he’s now a finalist in a contest for America’s most lovable pet.

After being rescued from a dumpster where he had been dumped as a puppy, with his front legs amputated, Pay de Limón (“Lemon Pie”) found the love he needed at the Milagros Caninos shelter, south of the Mexican capital, where 12 years later lives and reigns.

“He survived, he overcame the cruelty of people, of organized crime gangs,” said Patricia Ruiz, the founder of Milagros Caninos. “He doesn’t hold a grudge against anyone. People hold grudges, not dogs.”

Twelve years after he was found in a dumpster in the central state of Zacatecas, which continues to be ravaged by cartels, Lemon Pie will enter an online contest in the US, even though he lives in another country.

The America’s Favorite Pet contest is open to any pet in the Americas. It is held as part of a campaign to raise funds for charity.

The adoptive parents of the winner, who will be announced in March, will be awarded a cash prize of $5,000. He or she will be featured in a two-page spread of Dogster magazine.

For Ms. Ruiz, Lemon Pie’s journey should teach “all of us to say ‘yes, I can,’ to say ‘yes to life,’ against all odds.” Whatever happened to us.”