A puppy in Toronto who lost his two front paws in a horrific act of animal cruelty is learning to walk normally again after receiving a pair of prosthetics.
CTV Toronto reported back in December that True, a mixed-breed puppy from Ukraine, had his two front legs cut off in an act of animal cruelty.
Ontario-resident Erin Blaak heard about True through , an organization that helps rescue dogs, and offered to give him a new home in Canada.
Once receiving True, Blaak began a GoFundMe campaign in hopes of raising $5,000 for a pair of prosthetic limbs to help the dog walk again.
鈥淚t just gives him an opportunity to have a real life and get back what was taken from him,鈥� she told CTV Toronto on Thursday.
The campaign quickly exceeded expectations and ended up raising more than $20,000.
鈥淎s soon as the story hit, the GoFundMe went crazy,鈥� Blaak said. 鈥淧eople from all over the country were donating.鈥�
True has now been outfitted with a new pair of prosthetics, but it will take time before he鈥檚 completely comfortable using them.
鈥淚t's like anyone who doesn't use their legs for a long time; you lose that muscle memory and you just can't walk right away,鈥� Blaak said. 鈥淚t takes months and months to gain the strength back.鈥�
Janine Ross, a K9 rehabilitation practitioner who鈥檚 working with True, said the plan is to get him comfortable with the prosthetics in a small training pool and increase his strength.
Blaak and Cause 4 Paws also founded 鈥淭he True Fund,鈥� which works to bring dogs with special needs to Canada. The organization has already brought two three-legged dogs to the country and is working on taking in a dog who鈥檚 missing its two hind legs.
