A few years ago, Tigger, a Staffordshire bull terrier mix, caught the attention of people because of how he moved. The Staffie used his hind legs to balance himself and bounce around just like a kangaroo.
Tigger was forced to walk in this way because of a congenital malformation known as ectrodactyly. This made his paws look like lobster claws because of the irregular growth of his leg bones. The dog could barely bear his own weight for limited durations on his stunted front limbs.
The Staffie was unable to receive the necessary medical treatment while in the care of his prior owner, who was eventually forced to give him up after losing their home. Fortunately, a volunteer from the animal rescue organization Savin’ Juice read Tigger’s online ad and offered to take him in.
His foster-turned-permanent mother, Eve Good, met with Dr. Warnock, a member of the veterinary teaching program at Oregon State University. They discovered that if Tigger did not undergo surgery soon, his condition will only worsen and result in significant arthritis and discomfort.
The hospital projected that the operation would cost between $10,000 and $15,000. Eve started a GoFundMe page due to the lack of alternatives for Tigger.
Fortunately, animal lovers worldwide sympathized with the Staffie’s predicament, and sufficient funds were raised to cover Tigger’s medical expenses. After undergoing surgery, the dog received a personalized prosthesis from Animal Ortho Care in Virginia.
Derrick Campana, the owner of the orthotic company, had to make a number of tweaks to the contraption to make it more comfortable for Tigger, and everything turned out fine. Within a short time, the dog was able to walk freely and gracefully as he never had before.
The Staffie is also getting training to become a therapy dog in order to encourage children, particularly those with challenges similar to his own, to live their best lives. Tigger enjoys being among children and being the center of their attention, therefore his owner knows that he would enjoy doing this task.
The Staffie is now healing from a recent case of cellulitis. His doctors said that he is presently doing well after treatment.
Source: Tigger The Dog