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A Cocker Spaniel puppy born with six legs was found abandoned in a parking lot in Pembroke Dock, UK.
According to the Western Telegraph, the 11-weeks-old puppy was taken to the Medivet in Pembroke on Wednesday, September 27 by someone who claimed they found the poor pup in a parking lot.
The puppy was then taken to the Greenacres Rescue, an animal shelter in the UK.
The animal shelter later posted on Facebook to appeal for information about the pup, because it has no known history. In the post, Greenacres Rescue revealed, “She has been born with six legs and various other anomalies.”
While they don’t know anything about the puppy, the animal shelter began a diagnosis and a treatment plan with the vets for the pooch.
The animal shelter decided to name the puppy Ariel. Talking to Western Telegraph, Mikey Lawlor from the Greenacres Rescue shared the meaning behind the pooch’s name.
“Someone remarked that she looked like a mermaid, so this was when we decided to christen her Ariel.”
The animal shelter continues to provide updates on little Ariel’s journey. As a matter of fact, in an update shared on September 30, Greenacres Rescue shared the good news that the pooch is “internally” normal. “Her organs are all as they should be,” they wrote.
The pooch’s assessment according to the animal shelter was that, “Ariel has two additional back legs and the beginnings of an additional vulva. Her pelvis hasn’t formed properly due to the extra hip joint.“
“The plan will be to let her settle after her ordeal and reassess her in one month with the aim of removing the additional limbs and explore the function of her remaining leg.”
Additionally, the animal shelter revealed that there is a possibility of Ariel losing one of her legs “due to the structure of the additional limbs and pelvis, but time will tell.”
Thankfully, the animal shelter found a foster home for the puppy and is able to focus on her birth defects.
In a series of Facebook post updates, the animal shelter shared that Ariel is “settling wonderfully into her foster home”.
Since Ariel will be reassessed in one month and will possibly lose her additional limbs, Greenacres Rescue will face a large vet cost.
If you can, you may send donations to the Greenacres Rescue on their website to help with Ariel’s veterinary costs and the other animals at their shelter.
