Here’s a bit of beautiful news to wake up to on a Tuesday: 3D printing has been used to increase the quality of life of an adorable, disabled puppy dog. In 
The story begins when Anderson was in the process of adopting a dog through a site called 
The 3DS team was able to scan positive molds made of Derby’s elbows with their Capture 3D Scanner, meant for industrial scanning. You’ll see in the video below how they were then able to mold a 3D printed prosthetic, guided by animal orthotist Derrick Campana, using Geomagics software and the company’s Touch haptic mouse. Then, with the ProJet® 5500X, the company’s multi-material 3D printer, the team was able to create a pair of one-of-a-kind prostheses made from rigid and flexible materials for Derby. Anderson explains that the curved design is meant to give Derby traction, while preventing him from digging and getting caught in the dirt below his new feet.
Derby was eventually adopted by Sherry and Dom Portanova, who say that his new legs allow him to run even faster than them, up to 2 to 3 miles a day.
We’ve covered a lot of stories in which 3D printing has helped animals gain an improved quality of life, from Buttercup the Duck’s 3D printed prosthetic foot to the stories from North Carolina State University. But, I have to say, this is one of the cutest applications of 3D printing yet. Either that, or I just really want a puppy.
