Heartwarming generosity allows owner to give puppy life-changing prosthetics limbs
AN ADORABLE puppy who lost two legs after they froze to the ground has been given a new lease of life thanks to the generosity of online animal lovers.
Border Collie cross Hector became stuck in icy –40C conditions in the village of La Loche, Canada last year.
His mother picked him up from the snow-covered ground but in doing so, the pup had both his hind legs and tail ripped away.
Hector is such a playful and loving dog. I would not be surprised if he figures out that he might be able to jump up on the furniture when he has his legs on
The stricken dog was taken in from the cold by the Prairie Sky Dog Rescue animal centre and he was quickly adopted by Royal Canadian Mounted Police dispatcher Lisa Korol who spotted the pup on the charity's website.
The 47-year-old explained: "Everyday I would check out his picture.
"I think what attracted me was his cute loveable little face and the videos of him just running around and making out just fine with missing his two paws.
"He did not know he was different he just kept on going."
After bringing Hector into her home on July 12 last year, Ms Korol set out on her mission to get the pup back on his paws with a pair of prosthetics.
But the two-legged canine began to suffer while wearing his first pair of artificial hind legs.
Owner Ms Korol was quickly told she needed to raise $3,800 (£2,073) for a new set of legs.
A surge of support from animal lovers responded to a Legs For Hector Facebook page – taking part in silent auctions, a steak dinner night and funding pages.
The dog loving community raised more than $7,000 (£3,819) – leaving room for a healthy donation to the Prairie Sky Dog Rescue animal centre and Lakewood Animal Hospital.
Hector's new legs arrived from pet prosthetic specialists Orphopet last week and were fitted at Lakewood Animal Hospital in Regina, in Canada.
The pup wasted no time in taking his new paws for a spin.
Ms Korol said: "Getting the prosthetics has turned Hector into a four-legged dog who is able to run and play as any normal dog would.
"He spends the time when his legs are on running around and snooping around at things that were usually out of his reach.
"His favourite thing with the legs is that he can now go out in the snow and put his head down and push himself making tunnels in the snow."
Lisa, who had to put down her previous dog a rottweiler-lab cross named Mordecai, has to help Hector put on his artificial paws several times a day.
And once Hector gets used to being back on four legs, Lisa hopes he can be certified as a therapy dog for humans who are learning to deal with lost limbs.
Lisa said: "Hector is such a playful and loving dog.
"When I let him to sit on the sofa with me, he will cuddle close for a bit and then move but has to make sure that one of his paws or nubs is touching me all the time.
"I would not be surprised if he figures out that he might be able to jump up on the furniture when he has his legs on."
