9 months ago
DENVER (KUSA) - If there was ever a dog that deserved a second chance, Andre is that dog. He's been living with just two legs for a long time.
"He's just a fun loving guy, very warm personality," Martin Kaufmann with OrthoPets said.
Andre came a long way to meet Kaufmann.
The 3-year-old Shepherd-Rottweiler-Lab mix is from Alaska and lost his front and back left legs when he was caught in an illegal wild animal trap. He chewed off his own paws to get free and for weeks, he lived under a truck camper shell. He only weighed 38 pounds when Alaskan Dog and Puppy Rescue found him.
Andre's rescuers contacted OrthoPets to make him prosthetic legs.
"With just two legs, he can't stand up," Kaufmann said.
Just two days after that first fitting, on Wednesday Andre got his first second chance to stand. It didn't take him long.
"This is the first time that Andre has been able to stand on four legs in over a year and a few months now, so it will be an interesting challenge as he learns, instead of having to survive with two legs how he can actually thrive on all four," Kaufmann.
For a second he hesitated, and then Andre hopped up and started running around like any dog with four legs would.
"It's just such an amazing moment to see this guy who's learned how to be very adaptive on two legs and watch how fast he's able to go back to four legs. Just feels good to see he's able to be normal again, such a proud moment," Kaufmann said.
Within another few minutes, Kaufmann took the dog outside and Andre started to play. He ran around the parking lot outside (don't worry, there weren't any cars) and played with another dog.
Andre plans to keep running around this weekend. He's set to be part of the Furry Scurry on Saturday. And he's going to be walking as the leader of the pack, which means he was the top fundraiser for the event.
After a few weeks of adjusting to his new legs, he will go up for adoption.
"Andre is just being fostered with my family for just a few weeks and we're working with the Denver Dumb Friends League for adoption and I have to say it's going to be pretty hard to see this bugger go. He's such a sweet guy, such a happy guy and has such a drive to thrive," Kaufmann said. "Now... he can thrive the rest of his life on four legs instead of just surviving with two."
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