Abandoned dog with a functional leg happily runs on his new prosthetic legs!

news7g02/02/2023

5 3 minutes read

Abandoned dog with a functional leg happily runs on his new prosthetic legs!

When a breeder’s Great Pyrenees has puppies, there is one puppy in the litter that the owner doesn’t want. Halo was born with her front legs not fully developed, so the breeder knew they wouldn’t profit from her. So, the nonprofit Safe in Austin took the puppy into care after it was left in a box. The organization provides a safe space for animals with special needs or being abused.

However, Halo’s front legs aren’t the only problem. One of her hind legs is calcified and needs to be amputated for safety. So the poor dog was left with only one working leg.

Safe haven for Halo

In Safe in Austin, Halo has received the love and care her breeder would not have given her. She had her injured leg amputated and her front legs reconstructed. Halo went through a lot in the first few months of her life, but she kept fighting and was always full of joy despite it all.

When Halo grew up, she could crawl and jump around just fine. However, her human wants to give her an easier way to move around. All the dogs in need of wheelchairs at the sanctuary have them, but Halo needed something special. Jamie, owner of Safe in Austin, ordered a prosthetic leg from OrthoPets for Halo to try out.

“Her prosthetics have been fitted and we will have them fitted in a few hours. Our sweet baby was born with two front knobs (half the length of a regular leg and partially missing bones) and only one working hind leg, which will become a complete tripod! ” Jamie wrote in a Facebook post. “I am very worried. It’s been nine months, multiple surgeries, thousands upon thousands of dollars, and one of the craziest special and rewarding journeys with this sweet girl!”

Trying on her first prosthetic

Someone from the organization recorded a video of Jamie trying out Halo’s new prosthetic. Jamie is very gentle and always reassures Halo that everything is fine. When Halo put on both prostheses, she seemed confused. It took a lot of coaxing, but in the end, she stood up to them. She couldn’t believe how much taller she was!

Dogs with special needs wear socks — Facebook

Then, after regaining some confidence, Halo walked on her new legs. Soon, she was running around playfully and wagging her tail in excitement. She gets exhausted quickly, but she acts like she’s had those legs all her life.

RELATED: Stray Dog Found With All 4 Legs Amputated Receives Titanium Prosthetic Feet

“I can not believe it. The plan was just to introduce her to them today. It never even tried to walk. She has different plans. She doesn’t just walk… she runs!!!!” Jamie wrote in a Facebook post. “It has been a rollercoaster ride of challenges and emotions over the past year. From the moment I brought home this injured, four-week-old, one-legged ball home; I know she is something special!

In the video, a few other special needs dogs are running around. Someone from Safe in Austin assures everyone that other dogs have wheelchairs, but they can’t wear them 24/7. Jamie continued to push the other dogs away while Halo felt comfortable in her prosthetic for their own safety, but they drew a lot of attention off-screen.

Halo is an inspiration!

Now, Halo is living her best life at the sanctuary with new legs. For her, she is no different from any other dog. She can play and run just like them, so she’s as happy as she can be.

Safe in Austin doesn’t just help animals like Halo, they support people as well. They encourage people to visit the sanctuary and bond with the animals. They especially encourage children with special needs or a history of abuse to see a pet because many of these children feel comfortable interacting with an animal they can relate to.

Pediatric psychologist Dina O’Brien, Ph.D. “So when kids with special needs come here and they see special needs animals, they learn that they can trust and they can hope and they can start treating them. heal wounds in a way that sometimes cannot be achieved with traditional therapies.”