A puppy born with six legs and abandoned in a supermarket car park finally found a loving home.
The spaniel puppy, named Ariel after the mermaid from The Little Mermaid, was discovered outside a B&M store in Pembroke last September. Staff at Fenton Vets gave her the name because her extra legs, partially fused, resembled a mermaid’s tail.
At just 11 weeks old, Ariel was in distress when she was found and was taken to Greenacres Rescue in Pembrokeshire by a local dog warden.
In a heartwarming update, Greenacres Rescue recently shared the news of Ariel’s adoption: “We are thrilled to announce that Ariel has been officially adopted.” They added, “Ariel’s resilience and spirit captured people’s attention worldwide.”
Ariel’s journey has been remarkable. Since her discovery, she has undergone numerous medical procedures, including surgeries to remove her extra legs, physiotherapy sessions, and various media appearances. Her story received global attention, reaching audiences as far as Australia.
The rescue thanked everyone involved, particularly Ariel’s foster mother, June, for her care and dedication during the puppy’s transformation from an abandoned pet to a beloved companion.
After Ariel was initially examined, vets discovered she had multiple birth defects, including two extra legs, two vulvas, a missing kidney, and a malformed pelvis.
Greenacres Rescue launched a fundraising campaign to cover the costs of her medical care, raising £15,000 for the necessary surgeries.
In January, Ariel underwent surgery to remove her extra hind legs. The operation was successful, and Ariel walked and ate the next day.
Greenacres Rescue manager Mikey Lawlor shared, “Both procedures went well, and Ariel has been in the best hands throughout her recovery.”
Surgeon Aaron Lutchman, who led the medical team at Langford Vets Small Animal Referral Hospital in Somerset, praised Ariel’s recovery, saying, “She’s bounced back and is a happy little dog. We hope she goes on to lead a fabulous life.”
A spokesperson for Greenacres Rescue explained that thanks to CT scans, the surgical team did not encounter any unexpected issues during Ariel’s operation, despite the complexity of the procedure.
“It wasn’t a regular amputation, but it was uneventful,” they noted, adding that Ariel was in recovery and receiving plenty of love from the nursing staff.
There had been concerns that Ariel might lose one of her normal legs, as her extra legs were fused with a single thigh bone, but the surgery was successful without the need for additional amputations.
Vicki Black, director at Langford Vets, highlighted the collaborative effort required to treat Ariel. “Her care involved several specialist teams, including orthopedics, soft tissue surgery, anesthesia, and radiology. It was a pleasure to treat her and work with Greenacres Rescue,” she said.
Ariel’s story touched the hearts of many, with hundreds of people offering to adopt her. Though timid and scared when first brought to Greenacres, Ariel has found a home where she can live a happy life.
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