6-legged dog abandoned at grocery successfully undergoes surgery to remove extra limbs

A six-legged cocker spaniel that was abandoned at a supermarket successfully underwent surgery to remove the extra limbs and is "quietly" recovering in her foster home.

"It’s been a long and eventful road... but we have finally got to this point." Greenacres Rescue, the rescue that took in Ariel and raised money for her surgery and medical costs, wrote in a post on Facebook.

According to the BBC, Ariel was around 11 weeks old when she was abandoned in the parking lot of a B&M in Pembrokeshire, United Kingdom.

Not only did Ariel become an international star, but she did so while going through various vet visits, tests, and CT scans.

According to a separate post from Langford Vets Small Animal Referral Hospital, the hospital that performed the pup's life-changing surgery, it was performed on January 18 by Aaron Lutchman and Ed Friend. It stated that Ariel's surgery "went very well."

Despite fears that one of her legs might need to be amputated, the surgeons were able to save all four of her limbs, reports the BBC.

"She's doing really well, 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," said Lutchman to the BBC.

So, what's next for the internet-famous cocker spaniel?

"After she's had several weeks of physiotherapy and recovery, we'll see about finding her a forever home," Mikey Lawlor, the founder and manager of Greenacres Rescue, told the BBC.

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Ariel had health complications

Before, things began to look bleak for the rescue dog.

By the end of November, the rescue had been taking Ariel to Smart Clinic, a clinic that specializes in cases like Ariel's and uses physiotherapy to help its furry patients. After the clinic did some more assessments, the surgery and the results Ariel might see became more complicated.

"At this visit they used their state of the art equipment to map out all the blood vessels and nerves that go to Ariel’s extra limbs," the rescue posted online. "This was fascinating, but left lots of debate on the complexity of her case and what to do for the best, following conversations with the Smart Clinic and our own wonderful vets, at Fenton Vets, we felt a referral to a specialist would be best."

Ariel ended up at Langford after a CT scan revealed more about the extra legs and her condition.

"She only has one kidney and also has two uteri and various other doubles of blood vessels," the rescue wrote in a post. "The extra limbs were pretty much as we had thought from X-rays, but it has given us a better knowledge of the negative effect it is having on her physically and confirmed that removing them is the best option, but due to the complexity and uniqueness of Ariel’s anatomy, we decided that this operation must take place at the Langford Veterinary Hospital Bristol."

The total cost of Ariel's operation is a whopping £7,000, or $8,867.32. The BBC reports that £15,000, or $19,001.40, was donated to the pup from people worldwide.

Ariel's abnormalities

WJAR reports Ariel got her name because of her extra limbs.

It writes, "She was named for 'The Little Mermaid' character due to her additional appendage with two paws on the end that looked like a flipper."

Greenacres Rescue announced the pup was in their care on September 28 on Facebook. A Facebook post said Ariel was given to a local vet after she was found in a parking lot.

Her extra legs are the most obvious abnormality. They hung from her right hindquarters and dangled near her tail.

Despite original exams leading the clinic to believe her insides were normal, they soon found out the extent of Ariel's abnormalities.

The rescue has listed the following irregularities that further complicated the surgery:

• Two extra legs
• Two vulvas
• One kidney
• Two uteruses
• Various other doubles of blood vessels
• Two hip joints that prevented her pelvis from forming properly (reported by the BBC)

Ariel's foster home

Soon after Ariel was welcomed to her foster home, the rescue posted an update for its followers.

"She has settled into her foster home wonderfully," they said in the post

The pup can be seen cuddling with her foster brother and sister and playing with her foster mom in photos and videos posted by the rescue.

Ariel has reached Internet stardom

The rescue regularly posted photos and updates of the darling 6-legged puppy, and she quickly found internet fame.

The rescue was already receiving notes from all over the world two weeks after Ariel was rescued.

"Huge thank you to everyone that’s donated and contacted us regarding [Ariel's] welfare," they wrote in another update from October. "She is now an international star with emails coming in from USA, Canada, Australia and South Africa!"

Since September, the rescue has continued posting updates and tracking the cocker spaniel's progress and captured the hearts of thousands around the world.

Greenacres updated its followers when Ariel got her vaccines and even when she started her puppy classes.

"Recently she has started her puppy classes to ensure she becomes a well balanced, socialised and well behaved dog," they wrote in a post from October 29. According to a separate post, little Ariel graduated at the beginning of November.

In the same post announcing her starting class, they mentioned that Ariel visited the Broad Haven Community Primary School to meet the kids raising money for her surgery.