A dog born a genetic birth defect is now about to hit the ground running on a new life. Meet a Great Dane who is only four months old but already weighs nearly 60 pounds.
His caregivers call him Dennis Hopper, a nickname given due to his having to hop around just to get around, after being born with only three complete legs.
Hopper was surrendered by his breeder to "Great Dane Love," a Central Florida rescue group. They then brought him to Courtenay Animal Hospital.
For small dogs with Hopper's condition usually vets would amputate, but he's a Great Dane. That makes it a different story.
"The forelimb in a big dog bears a lot of weight, he could be 120 pounds full grown, so it's a lot to be missing that front limb," said veterinarian Elizabeth Chosa.
So they put the word out and got a quick response from Chrissy Stewart, who specializes in human prosthetics. She jumped at the chance to help a four-legged friend for the first time.
Without help, Hopper could suffer from arthritis and joint issues down the line.
"If we can prevent those things just by giving him balance and stability," said Stewart.
That's where her blade prosthesis comes in, made of aluminum and other lightweight material. They fitted him with it for the first time Thursday.
He quickly gained another nickname: "Blade."
"He jumped right into this one and was gone," Stewart said.
"He's running around like he's had it on for a long time," adds Dr. Chosa.
And ready for a new home. His caregivers say it will take a special family to adopt Hopper, to care for his new leg and health.
But with a face like his, he's got a leg up on a new home.
If you are interested in helping Hopper or adopting him, call the Courtenay Animal Hospital at 321-452-3647, or head to the Great Dane Love website.