Jun 30 2008Sweet Wheels: Dog Born With Back Legs Only
I love dogs more than I love people and that's the truth. Ask my girlfriend if you don't believe me, she has to sleep on the floor.
Hope, a Maltese puppy, was born with two little nubbins instead of front legs. So what did the people at Southern Comfort Maltese Rescue in Chattanooga, Tennessee do? Simple, they made her a pair of wheeled front legs.
The wheeled device was created by orthotist David Turnbill free of charge with makeshift shoulder joints connected to model airplane wheels. Each of the device's 'arms' can move up or down independently of the other, allowing Hope to pivot and turn. The spring-loaded prosthetic arms hook to a custom-fitted chest plate to allow Hope to lay down or sit up without removing the prosthetic.The wheels she uses as front legs took some getting used to and at first the tiny lap dog would tip over to one side.
Now Hope is completely accustomed to the legs and can runs laps around her other puppy pals (but please, no stairs). Wow, that really warms the heart, doesn't it? Mine sure feels like it's on fire. And that's not just the spicy breakfast tacos talking. I just hope this doesn't start some sort of sick two-legged pet craze. I catch you brandishing a saw anywhere near an animal and it's gonna be you needing wheels.
Hit the jump for a couple more pictures and a video of Hope before her wheels.
Thanks Trin, I like starting the week with a nice heartwarming feature before slowly slipping back into the depressing reality of a robot apocalypse.
Reader Comments
1. Matt - June 30, 2008 10:07 AM
wow he is going to have a tough time humping people's legs
2. SmokingGirl - June 30, 2008 10:37 AM
Alright...
3. Jimmy - June 30, 2008 10:46 AM
two words, dog cyborg
4. chatt - June 30, 2008 10:49 AM
i volunteered at that place once or twice, and im surprised they came up with something like that. but still, kudos to them.
5. beefytee - June 30, 2008 11:01 AM
They see me rollin'...hatein'
6. James - June 30, 2008 11:10 AM
Cute, wish there was video of robodog mode.
7. v - June 30, 2008 11:17 AM
That's cute.
I feel bad for him, but it's great they were able to think that up.
8. Julian - June 30, 2008 11:24 AM
I'd get one of those only if it crapped nuts and bolts. I would name him Dyno-mutt. Blue Falcon? Anyone?
9. Sboy - June 30, 2008 11:33 AM
They shoulda just made him into a hotdog.....
10. Chris - June 30, 2008 11:33 AM
This is what happens when dogs are inbred.
Keep supporting those puppy mills you monsters.
11. poop - June 30, 2008 11:47 AM
this is a living being, that deserves some dignity, ya sons of bitches!
12. slooeijoijoijlkjoi - June 30, 2008 11:52 AM
What a cutie pie. im all for helping animals and this center seems to have good intentions, but what the hell is a 'forever home?'
13. Momboelitist - June 30, 2008 12:18 PM
Since the front wheels are working out so well they should just remove the back legs and put wheels all around!
What? It could happen!
14. ZEBRA NINER - June 30, 2008 12:23 PM
Who wouldn't love dogs more than people? People suck. I'm glad they are able to help that little pup.
15. lamazone@gmail.com - June 30, 2008 1:41 PM
Why invest so much in a single dog? I think those priorities are not quite right. Why give one animal so much and put another one through a processor or cage it?
16. Turd Ferguson - June 30, 2008 2:35 PM
Old.
17. beefytee - June 30, 2008 3:17 PM
so's your mom Ferguson, but you didn't hear me complaining when she had my balls in her mouth.
18. guate6 - June 30, 2008 3:54 PM
I'm going to jump on the "old" bandwagon, but only because I've seen prosthetics like this for animals for many years now But unlike #16, I know that there are people who don't keep up with medicine and the like, and there are actually people who haven't seen it, which is perfectly fine.
If it's not more than 20 years old, then it's acceptable to have not seen "it" (anything).
I'd hate to see what sort of devices would be used for larger dogs: great danes, or saint bernards. Off-road tires? Drag-tires? 700cc racing bike tires? Who knows. Either way, I think these are great.
19. Drunkman - June 30, 2008 3:55 PM
Growing up little Fido always knew somehow he was different than the other dogs...
20. Chris - June 30, 2008 4:56 PM
this seems a little cruel to me....could they not have just put it down?
the dog's quality of life has been significantly reduced.
KILL IT.
21. groonk - June 30, 2008 5:04 PM
where's the vid of her on wheels?
doggoneit!
22. J - June 30, 2008 7:29 PM
Why is everybody calling the dog "he"...? The article clearly says it's a "she"...
23. v - June 30, 2008 7:39 PM
@22: The same reason lots of people call cats "she." For some reason, dogs are seen as masculine and cats are seen as feminine (aside of the obvious slang).
I admittedly typed "him" because I'm an idiot and lol tldr causes me to skim through.
24. Tek - June 30, 2008 10:57 PM
25. Joey - July 1, 2008 1:10 AM
We can rebuilld her, we have the technology. We have the capability to build the world's first bionic dog. Hope will be that dog.
26. aj - July 1, 2008 2:39 AM
Wow Matt you're a fucking retard
27. Brutor - July 1, 2008 5:37 PM
Can't they teach her to get up on her hind legs and run around like that dog on Youtube? Easier to deal with, don't have to worry about going in the grass, more empowering for the doggie. No danger of Congress demanding tens of billions of dollars in special doggie wheelchair access upgrades to buildings.
28. Garuda - July 2, 2008 11:32 AM
Cutest gimp ever.
Its kinda hard to teach her to stand on her hinds becasue she needs her front legs to boost herself upwards and they would help her balance.
29. AliCat - July 4, 2008 1:28 AM
Some pretty mean comments accompanying this little pup. I think shes cute and I'm glad she has a second chance at a good life with a family that will love her. Those of you who suggested just putting her down because she isn't perfect: for shame. Tsk. Tsk.
A forever home (to who asked) is a permenant home. A lot of dogs are temporarily taken care of in foster homes and shelters. Sometimes to be cute adoption ads will say the animal is looking for a 'fur-ever' home.
30. Liz - July 8, 2008 10:17 PM
There is an update to this story and obviously since I WANT to find it, I can't. The update is that vets warned the family that the dog couldn't use the wheels forever or it would damage her further so a prosthetist volunteered his services and made two front legs for the dog. She is now learning to walk.