Prosthetics help injured animals

One of my guilty pleasures is People magazine. Besides the celebrity news, however, there are often great human interest stories - like the one I saw in the current issue about Andre.

The story, titled "New Limbs, New Lives," is about animals that have benefited by the development of prosthetic paws, tails and flippers to correct their injuries. Andre, a black and brown mixed breed that's featured in the article, lost both his left paws after he gnawed through them to escape a wolf trap in Alaska.

He was rescued by Karen McNaught of Alaska Dog and Puppy Rescue, who helped Andre regain his strength. Getting around on just two good legs, however, was a little tougher. McNaught reached out to OrthoPets of Denver, which agreed to create two prosthetic legs at a reduced cost. They usually cost $600 to $800 each.

Andre was flown to Denver, fitted and now gets along well on his new legs. Denver's American Humane Association contributed $2,000 to help pay his medical bills.

If you haven't seen the story, check out the Sept. 21, 2009, issue of People.