Maimed Thai dog's missing paws replaced with blades
An orthopaedist says Cola "is not embarrassed being an amputee", adding "he just acts as he always did" before the surgery.
Friday 15 December 2017 06:17, UK
A dog who had his two front paws chopped off in Thailand is able to run again after a vet replaced his missing feet with blades.
Cola was taken to a vet after he was hacked by a man with a sword because he gnawed on a pair of boots.
The dog survived, but was left with two stumps for front paws.
Now, he has a pair of blades a Paralympian would be proud of after being taken to Soi Dog foundation on Phuket island.
The lightweight feet were tailormade for Cola, who was not able to bound around in his heavier prosthetics.
Owner John Dalley, who rescued him, said: "(These legs) give him a lot more balance, a lot more spread.
"It's actually quite amazing how adaptable dogs are and how forgiving they are."
Cola is believed to be the first dog who has had the more expensive suspended-style prosthetics, made recognisable by British Paralympian Jonnie Peacock.
His limbs sit in a socket, and his feet suspend around in a C-shape.
"What we wanted to achieve was...something that was not so heavy, that could be a bit flexible in the feet so that when he jumps and bounces they would not be completely stiff," said Teddy Fagerstrom, director of the orthopaedic lab which fitted the blades.
He added: "[Cola] is not embarrassed being an amputee.
"He just acts as he always did.
"I think he will show that having a good pair of legs will make it possible for you to continue to run and have fun."