The life of a disabled puppy looking for a new home in the north-east has been changed for the better thanks to 3D printing technology.
Mist, a 13-month-old Border Collie, was handed into the Aberdeen-based Dog Action Working Group Scotland (Dawgs) after her owner became too ill to look after her.
Staff at Dawgs knew that Mist had suffered an injury to her front leg when she was younger, but it was only when she came into their care that they realised the severity of the damage.
The breakage in her leg led to a deformity as she grew bigger, leaving Mist with a pronounced limp and the possibility of even more problems down the road.
To correct this, Aberdeen-based veterinary surgeon Scott Rigg used a CT scanner to create a 3D X-Ray, which was sent away to a specialist 3D printing company to create a unique plastic plate to perfectly fit into Mist’s leg bone.
She is currently recuperating from surgery on Thursday with her foster carer John Smith at his home close to the Haddo Estate in Aberdeenshire, and is now expected to fully recover within 12 weeks and hopefully find a permanent family.
But her vital procedure might never have happened if it was not for the donations of animal lovers from all over the north-east who offer their support to Dawgs.
Dawgs chairman Ian Paterson said: “It generally costs almost £300 to re-home every dog – but in Mist’s case the cost is over £3,000 because of the veterinary care – but the result makes it so worthwhile.
“We receive no statutory funding and rely on donations and our own fundraising efforts to fund out re-homing service and veterinary care.
“Any contributions towards the cost of Mist’s treatment would be gratefully received.”
For more information on how to donate, visit www.dawgs.co.uk