Dillon the wonder dog takes to his new legs

pets: ‘Bionic’ pooch has new lease of life after being left for dead on rubbish tip

A crippled dog that was left for dead is the first in Britain to have four prosthetic legs.

The bionic dog’s happy home in Dalgety Bay is a far cry from the Ukrainian rubbish tip where he was found with all four paws bound tightly with wire.

He was found, close to death, on a tip in Dnipropetrovsk in October 2015.

It was thought he had belonged to hunters who decided to get rid of him.

Callously, they tied his paws with wire and threw him into the rubbish dump.

Dillon was believed to have been there for seven to 10 days before being found in a terrible state.

Staff actually thought he was an old coat – until he groaned.

Now he runs about the home he shares with Lyn Johnston, who has spent around £8,000 on his rescue.

Vets had to amputate all the German wirehaired pointer’s seriously injured limbs to save his life.

When he was then taken to a Ukrainian animal rescue centre, an international appeal for help was issued.

Lyn, who is a dog walker, came to his aid, bringing him back to the UK to share her home and life as part of her family of rescue dogs.

Now 16 months on from his harrowing ordeal, Dillon can walk, run and play with his chums.

Lyn, speaking in a national newspaper, described Dillon as a “real snuggle monster”.

However, she recounted how she had faced a real struggle to get help.

Quite a few animal hospitals, despite not having seen Dillon, told her she should have him put to sleep.

“After everything he had already been through there was no way I could give up on him,” she said.

It was to her great relief that she finally found a vet in Aberdeen who was willing to examine him.

Won over by the “amazing” Dillon, Scott Rigg agreed to do all he could to get him back on his paws.

Lyn also contacted OrthoPets UK, which makes prosthetic legs for animals.

Scott made moulds of his stumps which were sent to America so his new legs could be attached comfortably. He took to them immediately and now locals know him well.

“He is an amazing dog and I’m so proud of him,” Lyn said.

Pictures: Jamie Williamson. Dalgety Bay woman Lyn Johnston spent £8,000 rescuing Dillon and nursing him back to health.

Dillon had all four legs amputated and replaced with prosthetic limbs.