Irish veterinary surgeon Noel Fitzpatrick fits the world's first prosthetic paw to a pet dog.
When an 8 year old Belgian Shepherd dog named Storm developed an aggressive tumour on his leg his owner Derek Taylor was not prepared to have him put to sleep or to have the leg amputated.
We knew the technology was there so we could have a four legged dog with a normal life.
Storm became the world's first pet to be fitted with a prosthetic paw. The veterinary surgeon who performed the groundbreaking operation is Noel Fitzpatrick. Originally from Ballyfin, in County Laois, he has been working in Britain since 1993.
For the first time ever, for humans or for animals we can put metal through skin but have a resilient seal.
This prosthetic procedure has been used on human fingers but never on larger limbs. It is hoped the pioneering operation will eventually act as a model for humans who have lost hands or feet.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 20 July 2007. The reporter is Brian O’Connell.
