Look Who it Was Random video

Roller 'Derby' a brand new pooch with his 3-D legs

472 views · Published 20 December 2014 · 2:29 · Indexed 23 October 2026

Channel: KUTV 2 News Salt Lake City · 2014 · News & Politics

Watch on YouTube

(CNN) See Derby run. But if you're wondering what's making the clickety-clack, it's his 3-D printer prosthetic legs.When he's not wearing his legs, Derby has to walk on his elbows. He was born this way -- almost euthanized, and finally rescued."He's just such a lovable dog," said Dom Portanova, Derby's owner and caretaker.Dom and Sherry Portanova eventually adopted Derby, but the pooch was first fostered by Tara Anderson -- who says she was reduced to tears whenever she looked at a photo of him."I was like, 'OK I'll do it, foster. I'll take care of him,'" she said.Tara not only took care of Derby, she helped design his new legs at the company she works -- 3-D Systems.The beauty of 3-D is that designers can manipulate the design and easily print out a new leg.So far, Derby has had four different variations -- ranging from a peg leg that didn't work too well, to the wheel with spokes. The last design suited Derby best."They are just velcroed and we have a little cushion in here," Sherry said. "When I saw him sprinting like that, it was amazing. I couldn't believe it."Now we have seen a tortoise with a wheel, and a pig with a two-wheeled cart, and even an elephant fitted with a giant prosthesis. But Derby's easily redesigned 3-D legs will actually grow with him. They are gradually being elevated to accommodate his height, and it takes only seconds to put them on.His elbows are tender, sometimes, which can make stepping into his legs an annoyance."Well, at first he really does not want you to put them on there," Sherry said. "Once he has them on, he's just happy as a clam to go out and run around."Derby now wears them between two and three hours every day, and can go about a mile on them. His owners hope he will be an inspiration to others with disabled pets. His Facebook page attracts dogs with similar problems, and there are even plans in the works to turn Derby into an action figure.And no, We're not pulling your leg."We just kind of call them his shoes," Sherry said.If only other disabled dogs could learn to walk a mile in this pooch's shoes. _____ Photo: CNN/3-D Systems Copyright 2014 Sinclair Broadcast Group and Cable News Network, Inc., a Time Warner Company. All rights reserved.

More from this channel