A ​Six-Legged Dog Is Having An Operation To Remove One Of Her Excess Limbs

An adorable puppy famous for having six legs will soon have one less limb to worry about.

Roo - a Labrador-cross - is kicking off 2020 with an operation to remove one of her extra front legs to make moving around easier, with the owner hoping she will eventually become a therapy dog.

The six-month-old pup was born with the defect in an unusual twist of nature and was then named Roo because of the way she hops around on her back legs when she walks - the best way she's found to move naturally, because of the extra limbs.

Lauren Salmon, 33, bought the pup from breeders in Essex after her son Luke, 15, saw her advertised online.

Luke suffers with psoriasis which leaves him feeling like the odd one out, but having Roo soothes him and he's very protective of her.

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And because of her unusual appearance, when Luke takes her on walks, he is regularly stopped by strangers.

His mum said: "He comes back and says he was stopped by some person and they gave her cuddles.

"Other people are like 'oh my god what is wrong with it' and he gets a bit on the defensive side because it is his baby."

The legs however bring her no pain, but because she now has a wheelchair to help her mobility, one of the legs keeps catching on the wheel and harness.

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So, on January 22nd next year, the sweet pup who doesn't let her extra limbs phase her, is having the sixth leg removed.

Her owner, carer worker Lauren described the op as "the best Christmas present ever".

But even the surgeon undertaking the operation had never seen anything quite like it. All the staff at the veterinary practice were so intrigued end excited to see her they all greeted Roo out front. What a royal welcome!

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Mum-of-four Lauren, from Orpington, Kent, has revealed once the leg has been removed, she has big plans for Roo to become a therapy dog.

She said: "You don't get disabled dogs as therapy dogs.

"Because I am a carer I thought about having her as a therapy dog to come round the old people homes for those that don't have family."

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"Disabled people would probably relate more to a disabled dog.

"I need to get this leg out of the way first and do whatever rehab she will need. When she is a year old she can go through the training."

Sounds like an adorable job for such a sweet pup who proves daily that being different doesn't need to hold you back.

Topics: Dog, Cute, Life, Animals

Lauren Bell

A freelance journalist working for Tyla. After graduating with a journalism degree, Lauren started off in real life magazines before moving into the fashion and lifestyle sector at the likes of Mail Online and Sun Online. Contact Tyla: [email protected]

@lbell4