World's First Dog With All Bionic Legs: Naki'o Can Play Again With 4 Prosthetic Paws (VIDEO)

You might remember Polo, the husky fitted with a prosthetic paw after being hit by a car, or Midnite, the miniature horse who took off running when first fitted with a prosthetic leg, but this red heeler pup takes being a bionic animal to a whole new level.

Naki'o is the world's first dog to be fitted with a complete set of four prosthetic paws, according to incrediblefeatures.com. Naki'o was barely 5 weeks old when he and his brothers and sisters were abandoned by a family fleeing their foreclosed home. Having barely survived the Nebraskan winter, all four of the dog's paws were deformed into rounded stumps after being stuck in an icy puddle.

Incrediblefeatures.com reports that Veterinary technician Christie Tomlinson "organized a fundraiser to pay for Naki’o to have his two back legs fitted with prosthetics."

From the site:

He took to these so enthusiastically, that Orthopets decided to complete the process free of charge. It was the first time they’d fitted an animal with a complete set of new legs.

Now, Naki'o is able to run, jump and play just like other dogs, thanks to the second chance his new set of legs have given him.

WATCH:

Comments

[nirek]

10:16 AM on 06/26/2011

I have something in common with this dog. I just got my 2nd new knee in two months last Tuesday. So my life will be much better now with pain free knees!
Good for this dog!

[mnlaura1]

02:14 PM on 06/25/2011

These people who abandon pets because they can't keep up on their house payments should be put in prison. At least take the animals to the Humane Society or some other shelter service. Don't just leave them to starve and freeze to death. People like this are WORSE than animals. They really don't deserve to live, in my opinion.

[Nancy Patterson]

03:45 AM on 06/25/2011

SO WONDERFUL TO SEE. LIKE HE'S HAD THEM ALL THE TIME. I WOULD WANT THIS FOR MY OWN IF SOMETHING AWFUL HAPPENED. APPLAUSE TO THE VETS FOR MAKING THIS HAPPEN. WOW

[SallySassalot]

02:40 AM on 06/25/2011

Yay Puppy!! Awww, this warms my heart to see! ♥

[supra21]

11:14 PM on 06/24/2011

This is a great story. A few years ago I was fortunate enough to be involved with the robotic surgury of replacement hips for dogs.. Called it Robodoc, and it was shown on PBS.

[Gary Moscowitz]

09:09 PM on 06/24/2011

It's amazing how well adjusted and seemingly happy this little guy is! We could all learn from this. Kudos to those Vets who donated their time...

[jimenezbrtt]

08:56 PM on 06/24/2011

Now its going to be harder for the mailman's to out run the dogs

[jnsprngslvr]

07:13 PM on 06/24/2011

6.24.11

I love it..good luck little 'fella'. All our animal friends deserve a break when they can get it. Thanks
to the know-how of our seasoned veterinarians and the kindness of people to provide such care.

[Janice Griffin]

06:53 PM on 06/24/2011

I think thats wonderful.

[DixieMay]

07:29 PM on 06/24/2011

Me too!

[wilkesgm]

06:21 PM on 06/24/2011

If you benefit from a capitalist society, it means you can keep what you earn. This company isn't getting government subsidies like GM or Chrysler. That means it's their business and the business of the people who buy the product. That people starve to death in the world is the result of authoritarian governments that prevent them from trading freely. Only capitalism creates surplus. Meaning, it's not quid pro quo. That we have things other people don't doesn't make them poor. Their government doesn't let them aquire wealth. So, when you vote in 2012, just remember that. Any government that believes it owns all private property is eventually going to go toward bankruptcy until your possessions are theirs.

[Janice Griffin]

06:54 PM on 06/24/2011

Stay on the subject

[Dusty754]

07:27 PM on 06/24/2011

So what does your tirade have to do with a dog with four prosthetic paws?

[jab2165]

05:55 PM on 06/24/2011

That is very interesting.

[Imvallyann]

04:53 PM on 06/24/2011

My best guest is this won't make it through the screening. Just another thing AOL and Huffington screwed up on. The catch is BIONIC. Well it isn't bionic it is prosthetic. Big big difference. Happy for Nakki'o and his new pets. Hope the monsters that left Naki'o and his brother and sisters suffer.

[emmittstay]

04:28 PM on 06/24/2011

Incredible story all the way around. My dog also has a prosthetic front leg from Orthopets. He was featured with this dog at a seminar at CSU. It is a true blessing that Naki'o could be helped and yes, his abusers need to be prosecuted severely:( A huge THANK YOU to Orthopets and to Christie Tomlinson:)

[Fletch55]

04:23 PM on 06/24/2011

Sad and happy at the same time. I hope the people who abandoned them are found and charged.

[thomasskycap]

03:50 PM on 06/24/2011

Being a animal lover especially dogs that was a very heartwarming story for me, I read some of the comments from the usual naysayers, making the usual comparisons like if they could supply a dog would prosthetics they should be able to supply all of the returning wounded from Afghanistan I go to the VA hospital for treatment at least four times a month I may be wrong, but I have never personally seen a veteran in need of any type of prosthetics and hadn't received it from the VA possibly the reason he didn't see it is because he never served, watching the video of the dog doing the things that dogs normally do just gave me a warm feeling nothing negative just a warm feeling.

[Dusty754]

07:30 PM on 06/24/2011

Another problem is many vets don't KNOW that they have these benefits from the VA or they don't know where to turn to for help. All they need do is call their local Veteran Affairs office or the local Disabled American Veterans office and either one should be able to let them know who to contact or where they can get the help they need.

[DixieMay]

07:31 PM on 06/24/2011

Totally agree!! And thanks for your service...it is much appreciated!