Abandoned Dog with 6 Legs Has Surgery to Remove Extra Limbs: 'Procedure Went Very Well'

The spaniel puppy named Ariel was found abandoned in a parking lot in the United Kingdom

A six-legged puppy who was found abandoned in a parking lot in the United Kingdom has now had surgery to remove her additional limbs.

The Cocker Spaniel puppy named Ariel, who as previously reported was discovered in the parking lot of a home improvement and garden store in September 2023, has since had her "extra legs" removed following a successful surgery, the Langford Vets Small Animal Referral Hospital shared on Facebook on Friday.

Ariel, who was born with "multiple birth defects" including the additional limbs and two vulvas, was eventually "referred to the specialists at Langford Vets in Bristol for investigations and definitive surgery," per the hospital.

"The procedure went very well, and Ariel took it all in her stride," the hospital shared. "Here she is pictured post-op with surgeons Aaron Lutchman and Ed Friend."

Related: Dog Born with Six Legs Stuns Animal Rescue After Being Found Abandoned in Parking Lot

Speaking with the BBC, Lutchman shared that Ariel was "doing really well" after her surgery, toward which people around the world raised roughly £15,000 — or around $19,000.

"She's bounced back and she's a happy little dog and we're hoping she's going to go on to lead a fabulous little life," he said. "She's got her own little character and even though she's had a tough start in life she really has done well to come through this as she has... if we can do what we can to help then that's just absolutely brilliant."

As previously noted, Greenacres Rescue at the Ebbs Acres Farm in Pembrokeshire shared on Facebook that the pup was “handed in to a local veterinary practice” on Sept. 27 after being found at the Pembroke Dock location of the store B&M.

At the time, Greenacres' Mikey Lawlor told Newsweek that Ariel earned her name after The Little Mermaid character because her “extra legs look like a tail.” Greenacres added on Facebook that the puppy was "normal" internally and “her organs are all as they should be.”

Related: Dog Missing Leg Spreads Confidence as Therapy Pet for Children with Limb Differences (Exclusive)

Lawlor told the BBC that Ariel's "pelvis never formed properly" and that "her normal back right leg had virtually no muscle tone, so there was a possibility that might have had to come off too."

"Thankfully that wasn't the case, though, as it's shown signs of having strengthened a lot in recent months," he added.

The procedures this week lasted about two hours with the pup "walking around and eating and drinking" the following day, per Lutchman.

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Ariel now has a foster family in West Wales, with the potential of a forever home after "several weeks of physiotherapy and recovery," Lutchman added.

"The response we've had to Ariel's story so far, including calls and emails from as far away as New York and Australia, has been incredible — so I've no doubt she'll be snapped up," he told the BBC. "I just can't say enough of a thank you to everyone who's contributed to helping her."

Langford Vets' hospital director Vicki Black also called Ariel a "complicated little dog" who required multiple specialist teams, including for orthopedics, soft tissue surgery, anesthesia and radiology.

"We are delighted such a lovely animal has recovered well from her surgery," Black told the BBC.

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