My Bionic Pet

For animal lovers, this PBS-aired Nature documentary is likely to produce a few tears. While cats and dogs can be remarkably resilient, it's hard not to feel for a pet suffering from limited mobility. But just as prosthetics can transform a person's life, veterinarians are working to do the same for animals. One subject, a pig with a genetic abnormality, gets a new lease on life by way of a wheelchair-like device, while a border collie walks normally for the first time thanks to prosthetic limbs that compensate for legs damaged at birth. Although these creatures might have faced euthanasia in the past, their caretakers found ways to give them a good life. This can be an especially critical issue for horses, who can develop the terminal illness laminitis after losing a hoof, but Molly, a New Orleans pony who lost part of a leg during Hurricane Katrina, has beat the odds with her prosthetic. Interestingly, the veterinarian who operated on Driftwood, the Nova Scotia collie, has a prosthetic leg himself, making him literally more empathetic to the animal's situation. Other subjects include an alligator missing most of his tail and a swan without part of her beak. Martin Kaufmann, one of several prosthetics makers, demonstrates how he makes molds from original limbs to create fiberglass replacements. In Kaufmann's view, “an animal can do fine on three legs,” but “it can do awesome on four legs.” While the message is laudable—animals aren't expendable—some information about medical costs would have been useful, as some of these specialized procedures are likely to be beyond the financial means of many pet owners. Still, this is an inspiring documentary that points towards a promising future for animals. Recommended. Aud: P. (K. Fennessy)