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The bionic dog: Mixed-breed Naki’o lost his paws to frostbite but can finally walk again after being fitted with four prosthetic limbs

A mixed-breed puppy had a tough start to live after losing all four of his paws and the tip of his tail to frostbite.

Naki’o was left abandoned at a foreclosed Nebraska home when he was a young and was found alone, frozen into a puddle of icy water in the cellar.

When he was eventually discovered, he was taken to an animal rescue center and under their care his paws healed to rounded stumps.

It was a tough existence for Naki’o, he couldn’t walk and play with other dogs due to the pain it caused him and instead had to crawl along on his belly.

Fortunately for Naki'o he meet veterinarian assistant Christie Pace of Colorado Springs, Colo. who was looking for an animal she could help.

‘I have a soft spot for rescue animals in general. I was looking for something different, unique. I wanted to make more of a difference than a regular dog. I knew I could help him out,’ she told ABC.


She adopted Naki’o when he was 8-weeks-old and then set about organizing a fundraiser to pay for him to have his two back legs fitted with prosthetics.

He took to these so enthusiastically, that the company who fitted them decided to complete the process free of charge.

‘When we saw how good he was doing with his back leg prosthetics and how he was struggling to use his front legs it was very simple to say, “we gotta keep with him.” He could do much better with all four prosthetics on,’ said Martin Kaufmann, owner of Orthopets, a Denver company that specializes in pet prosthetics.


Naki'o is the first dog to be fitted with a complete set of bionic paws that work naturally to allow him to run, jump and even swim.

At first walking on all four prosthetics was challenging, but Naki’o adapted quickly, learning how to use the devices as though they were his natural legs.

After just a few days he was running and bounding along. The prosthetics are built to mimic the muscle and bone of dog limbs, allowing them to do everything a normal dog would do.


Christie is amazed at her pet’s motivation and joy for life. 'Naki’o can now not only chase after a ball with other dogs, but he can beat them to the catch!'

In recent years, veterinarian medicine has advanced by leaps – with not just braces and prosthetics, but also implants - metal rods fused to the animals' own bone and then attached to an artificial paw.

One prosthetic can however cost anywhere from $1,000 to $3,000.
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Responses to "World's First Prosthetic Pawed Dog (Video)"

  1. Anonymous says:

    this is amazing.. te wonders of technology will never cease to amaze me.. this loving mix breed looks like she will be living an wonderful life. :)



    Ms. C.A.T.

  2. Morgana says:

    God bless these people. I adore them being so magnanimous to find time and spend it for the criple little dogs.

  3. Anonymous says:

    This dog was on the front of Mile High Dog magazine here in Colorado. This pup's story is an amazing one...this story touched me so, that I knew if I ever came into $$, I would support this foundation! They are doing wonderful God-like things! Can't say enough good things about the couple here in Denver that built these prosthetics..God Bless them for doing God's work!! :) Anyone, everyone, support!!

  4. Anonymous says:

    This is incredible technology and equally incredible philanthropy. Bless Christie for helping this to happen.

    Parenthetically, I do wish people would learn the difference between "veterinarian" (a noun) and "veterinary" (an adjective). Therefore, Christie is a "veterinary assistant," who is likely employed by a veterinarian (or perhaps a veterinary hospital), and it's "veterinary medicine" which is practiced by veterinarians.

  5. Anonymous says:

    I am pretty sure this is a Blue Healer X Shepard. Has a Shepard face and tail [what is left of it] What a handsome animal and a lucky one too. It will never cease to amaze me what people will do to help an unfortunate.

  6. Anonymous says:

    What a loving happy boy he is. I am so happy he got such an amazing chance to have a wonderful life.

  7. Unknown says:

    This is soooo joyful it brought me to tears .... xoxo

  8. Unknown says:

    I don't care if Christie pace is a veterinary or a veterinsrian assistant, or whether she came from outer space, anonymous, i'm just thankful she is a guardian angel to these poor animals who need her!

  9. Anonymous says:

    Wonderful!!!

  10. Anonymous says:

    super pour ce toutou c'est vrai que la science avance et fait des belles choses entre autre pour aider ce toutou j'adore et merci mille fois pour lui

  11. Anonymous says:

    IT MAKES ME HAPPY

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