A moment that moved us (Video)

The dog, Monika, is walking on four new titanium prosthetic legs just months after doctors recommended putting her to sleep. Novosibirsk-based veterinarian Sergei Gorshkov is being praised for performing the surgery that saved Monika’s life. Since 2015, he has performed operations involving prosthetic limbs on 37 animals, with Monika being the first dog to benefit from his work.

Gorshkov is shocked by how fast the dog recovered from the extensive operation and noted that she will now be able to lead a life filled with play, walks, and plenty of affection. “I don’t think we were optimistic about that,” said Gorshkov. “But on the third day, she started standing up and walking around the clinic, going from room to room.” In December 2020, in the Russian town of Plastunovskaya, workers found Monika alone with injuries to all four of her paws. It is unclear how the dog ended up in this condition, but there is speculation Monika was abused and abandoned. Monika was found by volunteers in a forest near Krasnodar, a city in southern Russia 4,000 kilometres (2,485 miles) from Gorshkov’s clinic. Eventually, Monika was brought to the Russian city of Krasnodar, where her limbs were amputated, and she received a blood transfusion. From there, shelter volunteers Marina Gapich and Alla Leonkina started caring for the dog and struggled with what to do next.

This vet was the only hope

Many suggested that Monika should be put down, but the volunteers believed there had to be other options. To save the dog, the two women got in touch with Gorshkov and managed to raise $5,400 to pay for the operation that saved Monika from being euthanized. “I’m happy to give a new life to the animals,” Gorshkov said. “People find some consolation in animals, and so by treating animals, I treat people,” he added. Two weeks after the procedure, the small beige pooch is still weak and tired, but she’s back on her feet again. Watch the video, the moment when Monika will try to walk for the first time after surgery… a moment that moved us!