© Barry Bland / Barcroft Media
Brave superego Andre casts a heartwarming image as he gambols around a park – apparently oblivious to the fact he chewed off his own legs after getting ensnared in an illegal hunting trap.
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Found close to death on an Alaskan roadside in March, the loveable pooch horrifically had to bite through the lower parts of both left legs to escape from the savage device.
Weighing just under three stone, the near-to-death Alsatian-Rottweiler mix was bleeding severely from wounds when he was rescued by the Alaska Dog and Puppy Rescue group (ADPR)
© Barry Bland / Barcroft Media
Slowly nursed back to health over the course of a year, the tough dog now enjoys a full life thanks to ingenious prosthetic limbs fitted for him in Denver city.
“I had been in contact with the Alaska Dog and Puppy Rescue group since Andre’s accident in early 2008,” said Amy Kauffmann, 31, who runs OrthoPets animal prosthetic limb company in Denver, Colorado.
“They sounded me out about fitting Andre with a pair of prosthetic limbs and we were only too happy to help.”
Flown into Colorado in April, Andre was fitted with two false limbs just below the elbow of his front and rear left legs.
“They are specially designed with a silicon cushion to enable Andre a larger amount of comfort,” said Amy.
© Barry Bland / Barcroft Media
“We were happy to work with ADPR and the American Human Association to foot the £2,800 medical bill for him.
“He is a beautiful dog, reacts well to children and so far everything is going according to plan.”
Now living with a friend of a former colleague of Amy’s, Andre has become an unlikely symbol for anti-trapping campaigners in the US.
“Andre was caught in a totally gruesome wolverine trap in Alaska,” explains Amy.
“Animal rights campaigners are always keen to use Andre as an example of what these kind of traps can do.
“The fact that he chewed off his own legs just to get free says a lot about the character of the dog.
“It is great to see him so fresh and happy.”
© Barry Bland / Barcroft Media
Happy on his new legs, Andre returns to see Amy and her husband Martin at OrthoPets once every few weeks for a check up.
“We treat two to six animals a month here in Denver from all over the globe,” said Amy.
“Me and my husband set up OrthoPets in 2003 so we could professionally work with and indulge our love of animals.
“Pets should get the same kind of care as a normal person, there is no reason why they shouldn’t have another chance.”
Words by James Nye
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