A spaniel born with six legs found abandoned in a supermarket parking lot is now like other dogs after having her extra limbs surgically removed. Ariel, who was named for "The Little Mermaid" character because the additional paws looked a flipper, ran through the grass Saturday as she adjusted to life on four legs.
"She is doing brilliantly," said Vicki Black, director of the Langford Vets Small Animal Referral Hospital, where she was operated on Thursday.
The dog, who had multiple birth defects, was found in Wales, in September. Greenacres Rescue took her in and raised funds for her surgery. The hospital said they never performed an operation like this.
"Ariel was a complicated little dog," Black said. "We are a center committed to career-long learning and are proud to innovate and treat pets like Ariel."
The extra legs extended from the right hindquarter and appeared to be of no use, dangling beside her wagging tail, as she walked a bit awkwardly in a video shot before the operation.
Once discharged, she took to the lawn outside the hospital with the determination of a bird dog, nose to the ground and pulling on her leash.
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Photo: Vicki Black