WATCH: Dog Takes First Steps On Prosthetic Leg In West Orange

WEST ORANGE, NJ — An inspiring effort led by high school students in West Orange put a big smile on a dog’s face when he took his first steps on a new leg.

Students enrolled in the technology and engineering department at West Orange High School recently tackled a unique assignment with a powerful real-world impact: designing a prosthetic leg for an in-need rescue dog.

Boonton-based tech studio DiveDesign and Madison-based nonprofit Creature Comfort Pet Therapy teamed up with the school on the project.

“Cody the Tripod Dog” is a street rescue who was found abandoned in Puerto Rico. When he arrived in rescuers’ arms, his front leg was so badly mangled that it had to be amputated. But after finding a new home with Karen Clark of Creature Comfort Pet Therapy in 2021, Cody has been an “amazing ambassador and source of inspiration to all of the people he meets in his pet therapy career.”

That includes students at West Orange High School, who set out to design a prosthetic for the endearing pooch.

With guidance from DiveDesign, the students worked their way through the creative process. Their efforts finally paid off when Cody took his first steps.

“At first, Cody wasn’t feeling his new prosthetic leg,” a caption in a video shared by the district reads, as the playful pooch – with his tongue lolling out this mouth and tail wagging – stands around trying to find his balance.

But Cody slowly got the hang of it, eventually trouncing happily up and down a pathway between classroom desks on his way to a brighter future.

Watch the video below.

Send local news tips and correction requests to eric.kiefer@patch.com. Learn more about advertising on Patch here. Find out how to post announcements or events to your local Patch site. Don’t forget to visit the Patch West Orange Facebook page.