German Shepherd Puppy Surrendered By Mississippi Breeder Gets Prosthetic Paw And “Perfect” Home

Despite a rough start in life, a German Shepherd puppy born without a foot now has a prosthetic paw and a loving new home.

Nemo was just six-months old when he was surrendered by a breeder to Simpson County Animal Control in Mississippi in January. Instead of bringing him to the local kill shelter, Animal Control Officer Michael Andrews reached out to Cheshire Abbey, a rescue organization in Jackson, to see if they could rescue the “sweet” pup.

“He sent me the pictures and I posted him on Facebook,” founder Chrissy Cheshire recalled to Southern Living. “Within just a few minutes we had several people offering to adopt him.”

While vetting potential adopters, Cheshire contacted nearby Buckner Prosthetics to see if they could help make Nemo a new paw.

“Nemo was born without his back right paw, and he was trying to put weight on it, but this would lead to hip abnormalities in the future as he grows,” Zachary Myrick, owner of Buckner Prosthetics, told WAPT.

Myrick told the local news station that his company creates prosthetics for six to eight animals a year.

"This puppy is very similar to our pediatric population in that we build a device, and there are a lot of alignment challenges," he explained. "As this puppy grows, we’ll have to make sure the prosthetic grows with him."

Nemo loved his first prosthetic.

“The moment Nemo got his new foot I would’ve said he was the happiest dog on the planet! He absolutely loves to run around on it! It’s adorable!” Cheshire said. “It makes me smile just thinking about how it has changed his life for the better!”

Nemo went to his first followup appointment with his new adopter, Alan Cooper. 

Cooper told WAPT that he didn’t realize Nemo was missing a paw when he expressed interest in adopting him. Looking at the photos, he just saw a new friend for his German Shepherd, Sully. 

But even when he learned about Nemo’s limb difference, he wasn’t deterred. 

Today, Nemo is a happy, healthy, ordinary puppy settling into life in his forever home with Cooper and Sully. 

“He is thriving,” Cooper told Southern Living in a statement. “He loves his brother. He started off a little timid staying by me even outside but now he explores the whole yard with Sully and they play for hours until they get tired. Sully has taken such a big brother role where he shares his toys and even lets him win in wrestling. They’re really the perfect pair and I think Nemo has a perfect home.” 

“What I thought would be initially a challenge because of his leg hasn’t been at all,” he concluded. “He’s a very good and sweet dog and it’s just fantastic to have him here as part of the family.”

Go, Nemo, go!