Every animal is precious and deserves a chance to survive. Some require extra care due to their unique circumstances, but that doesn’t mean they should be euthanized. Thankfully, there are compassionate people who fight to give every animal a chance at life.
One such dog lost her paws due to severe mistreatment and was on the brink of being euthanized. However, she not only escaped death but also received a life-changing gift: prosthetic paws. Monika, the dog, was found in December in the Russian village of Plastunovskaya. After enduring significant trauma, her paws were so severely damaged that they had to be amputated.
Rescue volunteers Marina Gapich and Alla Leonkina took Monika in, but they were devastated when experts suggested putting her down. Refusing to give up, they searched for another solution. Marina declared that they were her guardians, determined to find a way to help Monika.
They eventually found Sergei Gorshkov, a veterinarian specializing in prosthetics. With the help of donations totaling around 400,000 Russian rubles (about $5,400), they were able to provide Monika with new legs.
Although Sergei had never created prosthetic paws for a dog before, he took on the challenge. The titanium legs were crafted with a special biocoating at Tomsk Polytechnic University.
To everyone’s amazement, Monika quickly adapted to her new paws. Sergei shared that they initially had little hope, but by the third day, Monika was up and walking around the entire facility, moving confidently from room to room.
The veterinarian felt immense satisfaction in saving Monika’s life. Her story is a testament to the miracles that can happen when people refuse to give up on animals. Thanks to the relentless efforts of her rescuers and the veterinarian, Monika was given a second chance at life when she was just moments away from being euthanized.
