GLITZ TV
Ariel, the dog with six legs that was found in a supermarket car park, has undergone surgery to remove her extra limbs.
The 11-week-old spaniel gained attention after being abandoned outside a B&M store in Pembrokeshire in September.
Well-wishers from all over the world raised around £15,000, enabling her to undergo the life-changing operation.
Surgeon Aaron Lutchman successfully saved all four of her functional limbs, despite initial concerns that one might need to be amputated.
“She is doing really well, she has bounced back and she is a happy little dog, and we hope that she will go on to have a fabulous little life,” said Mr. Lutchman.
“She has her own little character, and even though she had a tough start in life, she has really done well to come through this… if we can do what we can to help, then that would be absolutely brilliant.”
Mikey Lawlor, the founder and manager of Greenacres Rescue near Haverfordwest, took in Ariel after finding her alone, skinny, and distressed.
“The vet who initially assessed Ariel noted that, in addition to her two extra hind legs, she had an additional vulva,” said the 42-year-old.
He added that a CT scan later revealed that she only had one kidney, which added complexity to her medical treatment.
“And Ariel’s pelvis did not form properly because she had two hip joints on one side.
“As a result, her normal back right leg has virtually no muscle tone, so there was a possibility that it could be removed.
“Thankfully, that is not the case, as she has shown signs of strengthening in recent months.”
They named her Ariel after the Disney character from “The Little Mermaid” because of her partially fused extra hind legs that resemble a mermaid tail.
Ariel underwent the surgery at Langford Vets Small Animal Referral Hospital in Somerset on Thursday.
“The two procedures lasted about two hours, but both went well,” said Mr. Lawlor.
“The next day, she stood up, walked around, ate, and drank.
“Now we just need to keep our fingers crossed that she doesn’t develop any infections, but she is in the best hands.”
Mr. Lawlor hopes that Ariel will be discharged this weekend so she can return to her foster family in West Wales.
“Then, after several weeks of physiotherapy and recovery, we will consider finding her a forever home,” he added.
“The response we have received regarding Ariel’s story, including calls and emails from as far away as New York and Australia, has been incredible – so I have no doubt that she will be snapped up.
“I cannot thank everyone enough for their contributions to help her.”
Vicki Black, the director of Langford Vets, said, “Ariel is a complex little dog whose care requires close collaboration across specialist teams, including orthopedics, soft tissue surgery, anesthesia, and radiology.
“As part of the University of Bristol, our center is committed to career-long learning, and we are proud to innovate and treat pets like Ariel.
“We are pleased that such a lovely animal has recovered well from her surgery.”
The recovery process for Ariel after her surgery is expected to take several weeks. During this time, she will undergo physiotherapy and receive care to ensure her proper healing and rehabilitation. The exact duration of the recovery process can vary depending on individual factors and how well Ariel responds to treatment. It is important to provide her with a supportive and nurturing environment during this period to aid in her recovery.
