Meet Derby! The front legs and paws of this lovely Husky mix were born deformed. He couldn’t walk about like other dogs. He tried his hardest to move around, but as you may assume, this occasionally resulted in cuts or injuries.
Peace and Paws rescued Derby from a shelter. It was then that he attracted the notice of Tara Anderson, a 3D Systems employee who was there to adopt another dog. If you’re unfamiliar with 3D Systems, it’s a business that helped to pioneer 3D printing technology and brought it to the public. Some things are simply meant to be.
Tara couldn’t take her mind off Derby after meeting him and hearing his story. She started crying as she read his story and looked at his images on the internet. She believed she could help this puppy in some way, so she volunteered to foster him.
Tara fell in love with Derby the more she got to know him, and she was determined to help him out. Derby received a set of wheels, but they were not ideal. It didn’t provide him with the opportunity to run or walk, and he’d get trapped in rough terrain. The wheels were inconvenient, making it difficult for him to play with other dogs. There had to be a better way for Derby to get around.
Working in the realm of 3D-printed items, she reasoned that she and her coworkers might be able to come up with a 3D printed prosthetic leg that would provide Derby with the mobility he craved and the sensation of running and walking that every dog needs. Derby’s life would be profoundly altered by what happened next!
Working with a 3D printer made it easier to tailor Derby’s prosthesis to his exact leg and foot proportions. They didn’t have to construct models and try them on Derby to see how they fit; instead, they scanned his legs and customized the prosthetic to fit Derby perfectly all within a computer, saving time and money.
Derby’s prosthetic legs were kept low to the ground so he wouldn’t notice a big difference from what he was used to. They’ll keep raising his prosthetic legs until he’s completely adapted and standing at a more natural height for a dog his size.
Derby quickly adjusted to his new legs and even outruns his new adoptive parents.
What can happen when science, technology, and love join together is truly remarkable.