Every life is precious and every single soul deserves a chance. Fortunately for Monika, a Russian rescue dog, she got a second chance at life when things didn’t seem to be going her way.
Despite her severe injuries and vet recommendations to euthanize her, Monika was fitted for titanium prosthetic legs and is adapting very well to her new life with new legs. This is Monika, a brave little girl who overcame so many challenges.
Following her severe injuries, doctors had recommended for Monika to be euthanized. However, thanks to her dedicated rescuers and a kind vet, Monika has four titanium prosthetic legs and another crack at life.
Recommended to be euthanised, now Monika is thriving with her four prosthetic legs.
Sergei Gorshkov, a veterinarian in Novosibirsk, Russia operated on Monika. This is not his first time; since 2015, he has fitted 37 animals with prosthetic limbs, but Monika is the first to respond well.
Gorshkov says that, two weeks following her operation, Monika was adjusting quite well in terms of her mobility and he estimates that she would be back to leading a normal life very soon.
Even her vet is surprised at how quickly she is recovering.
Gorshkov noted that he was quite surprised by how soon Monika was recovering from the operation. He said, “I don’t think we were optimistic about that. But on the third day she started standing up and walking around the clinic, going from room to room.”
When Monika was rescued, it looked like she had been severely abused.
In December 2020, Monika was found by some workers in Plastunovskaya, a village in Russia. She didn’t have any of her paws, leading her rescuers to believe that she had been abused.
Animal rescue volunteers Marina Gapich and Alla Leonkina took over the responsibility of taking care of Monika. Based in Krasnodar in Southern Russia, the two women were able to get Monika the medical care she needed. Monika’s damaged limbs were amputated and she received a much-needed blood transfusion.
Monika’s rescuers were determined to keep her alive no matter what.
Considering her serious injuries, veterinarians had suggested to Gapich and Leonkina to have Monika euthanised. However, the two women refused this. They reached out to Gorshkov and succeeded in raising 400,000 Russian rubles (more than US$5,400) for the prosthetic limb operation.
A lot of dedication and work went into creating Monika’s prosthetic legs.
Her prosthetics were first printed by a 3D printer located in Troitstk and were then biocoated at Tomsk Polytechnic University. And then, it was time for the operation. It was a huge success.
For Gorshkov, helping animals during the pandemic means helping people too.
The vet says that the pandemic has changed how he views his work, especially in light of how important pets have become to people.
“I’m happy to give a new life to the animals since especially now during Covid. People find some consolation in animals and so by treating animals, I treat people,” says Gorshkov.
Monika has blossomed into a happy little doggo, fully enjoying her second shot at life.
Everyone around Monika quickly fell in love with the adorable pooch. Both Gapich and Leonkina are doing their best to make sure Monika has a very good life. They are currently exploring the option of consulting an animal behaviourist from London to help Monika.
Monika is getting better and better at moving around on her prosthetic legs. Here she is getting ready to head out.
Doesn’t she look adorable in her onesie?
Here’s Monika going out for a stroll in the snow with her new prosthetic legs!
Before long, Monika will be able to run around like any other dog!
Although Monika had a rough time for a while there, thanks to her very kind and dedicated rescuers, Monika got a crack at a good life. Despite being possibly abused, she defied all odds and made it. She is truly an inspiration to us all. I’m so glad her story has a happy ending. After all, this angel surely deserves it!
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