A Chihuahua born with no front legs has been given a new lease of life after a team of vets built her custom made wheels.
Scurrying across the park, leaping from the sofa or even playing with other dogs was just a dream for Chispi the two-legged Chihuahua.
Sadly, she spent most of her time being carried around and when she did walk, she could only manage a few steps before falling over.
But now, thanks to a tem for experts at the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) the pup can now run and live a normal dog’s life.
Chispi the Chihuahua has had her life transformed by a specially made wheelie vest
Chispi was sadly born with only two legs, but thanks to vets at ASPCA she can move around like other dogs
After numerous visits to her home in the Bronx, New York, the team designed a custom-made ‘wheelie vest’ making a fibreglass mold of her body and adding wheels to give her mobility.
Dr. Lori Bierbrier, from ASPCA, said: ‘When I heard Chispi’s story, I thought, ‘This is a dog we need to help.
‘Chispi’ is in a loving home; she’s well cared for; she’s healthy. Overall she has a good quality of life. But her mobility is compromised, so she can’t be independent.
‘Since she can’t walk properly, this puts extra pressure on her back and her hind legs.
‘Most of her time is spent being carried from place to place, and when she did walk on her own, she could only hop a few steps and sometimes fall.
Before her life-changing transformation, Chispi had to be carried around and could only manage a mother of steps before falling over
Chispi, almost dwarfed by a man’s trainer, kneels down as she tries to move across the floor
‘We knew we needed to go the extra mile to find a solution, because we wanted her to have a full quality of life.’
Giselle Pescador, a Community Advocate for ASPCA, first met Chispi’s owner when she brought her pets there for vaccines and neuter surgery.
She said: ‘My reaction when I first saw Chispi was mostly shock.
‘I had never seen an animal like that. I wondered, ‘How will this dog ever live a normal life?’
Chispi tentatively takes her fest steps with the new wheels as her loving owners look on
Walks in the past used to be a dream for Chipsi, but thanks to the wheels – they have become a reality
‘I felt such joy when I saw that the whole family was there watching Chispi walk for the first time. When Chispi took her first steps, it was very exciting.
‘It’s actually life-changing for the whole family, not just Chispi.
Chipsi – whose name comes from the word Chispita, which means ‘spark’ in Spanish – took to her new wheels immediately.
Dr. Bierbrier added: ‘Typically with devices like these, they need a few adjustments to work perfectly. But the minute we put Chispi in it, she started walking. It was like she was waiting for it; she just took right off.’
‘Having this chair is going to greatly improve her quality of life.
‘It will allow her to get around the apartment, go outside for walks, meet other dogs and smell the outdoors.’