SUPERPETS : WHEN LIFE IS RESTORED THROUGHT A PROSTHESIS

© Emanuela Colombo - Image from the SUPERPETS : WHEN LIFE IS RESTORED THROUGHT A PROSTHESIS photography project © Emanuela Colombo - Image from the SUPERPETS : WHEN LIFE IS RESTORED THROUGHT A PROSTHESIS photography project © Emanuela Colombo - Image from the SUPERPETS : WHEN LIFE IS RESTORED THROUGHT A PROSTHESIS photography project View all images ↓
View all images ↓
Report issue

There are prosthetics that replace entire limbs, allowing a dog to chase its favorite ball again. There are braces that support weary joints and help an old furry friend climb back onto the home couch.

The loss of a limb, a congenital deformity, a sudden illness.

A dog that can no longer run, watching the world without jumping into it

anymore... and life — once filled with running, playing, and chasing — turns into stillness.

But the story doesn’t always end there. Today, tools born from the union of

science and love exist — promises of movement, tailor-made for each animal, as

light as the steps they are meant to restore: prosthetics for pets.

There are prosthetics that replace entire limbs, allowing a dog to chase its

favorite ball again. There are braces that support weary joints and help an old

furry friend climb back onto the home couch.

Made from durable materials, these devices are carefully and precisely shaped

to the animal's body, with care, precision, and respect.

Not every animal can wear them.

It takes careful assessment — listening to the body and soul of the one who

must learn to walk in a new way. And it takes time. Every step is a victory.

But when it happens, it truly happens:

an animal that begins to move again also rediscovers a part of itself. Not just

movement, but joy, curiosity, and the emotional balance that disability had taken

away. The tail starts wagging again.

And then it’s clear — a prosthesis is not just a piece of technology.

It’s a second chance.

© Emanuela Colombo - Image from the SUPERPETS : WHEN LIFE IS RESTORED THROUGHT A PROSTHESIS photography project
i

This lively and affectionate big pup comes from Campania, where he was likely hit by a car that shattered his leg in multiple places. The leg could not be saved and had to be amputated. His new dad Davide entrusted him to the specialists at DocMonkey, who built a custom prosthesis for him. Barry wears it gladly and now live a healthy and pain-free life.

© Emanuela Colombo - Image from the SUPERPETS : WHEN LIFE IS RESTORED THROUGHT A PROSTHESIS photography project
i

When Nina arrived, it was immediately clear that she had problems with her hind legs. She dragged herself along, asking for our help. We discovered that Nina’s illness was caused by the bacterium Neospora. Nina was promptly treated for the infection, but the joints in her hind legs were already damaged. My husband thought to use braces which allowed her to live a life that was almost normal.

© Emanuela Colombo - Image from the SUPERPETS : WHEN LIFE IS RESTORED THROUGHT A PROSTHESIS photography project
i

When Oliver finally found a family they tried to improve his condition by having surgery but it didn’t go well. They tried using a wheelchair but the device’s rigidity didn’t allow him to express his energy. As a last attempt they decided to try a prosthesis on the leg that wasn’t atrophied and the prosthesis was so well designed and built that now he can walk without any trouble.

© Emanuela Colombo - Image from the SUPERPETS : WHEN LIFE IS RESTORED THROUGHT A PROSTHESIS photography project
i

Yuma appeared in a Facebook post, looking for a family, but no one wanted her because of her malformations. Annamaria adopted her when she was just three months old, and immediately began looking for a way to help with Yuma’s mobility issues. Her veterinarian recommended contacting DocMonkey, who created a custom prosthesis for Yuma.

© Emanuela Colombo - Image from the SUPERPETS : WHEN LIFE IS RESTORED THROUGHT A PROSTHESIS photography project
i

Liza lived in Bulgaria. She got caught in a trap and severely injured her front leg. After the accident, she was abandoned and ended up in a shelter. Federica saw a post from an organization that was organizing a transport to bring at-risk dogs to Italy and adopt her. Liza’s leg had to be amputated, so Federica contacted DocMonkey, who created a custom prosthesis for her. Now Liza walks normally.

© Emanuela Colombo - Image from the SUPERPETS : WHEN LIFE IS RESTORED THROUGHT A PROSTHESIS photography project
i

Mia was the only one born with a deformity in a litter of nine Whippets. Mia was only four months old when Alex adopted her, without worrying about her deformed paw. Since she was a puppy, Alex had been trying to find a solution for Mia’s paw, but only after she began using a custom-made brace Mia begin to run, go for walks, and happily play with her little sister Zoe.

© Emanuela Colombo - Image from the SUPERPETS : WHEN LIFE IS RESTORED THROUGHT A PROSTHESIS photography project
i

Ombra is a Belgian Malinois. Her owner, Giuseppe, was mowing the lawn when Ombra suddenly threw herself under the mower, which ended up amputating her paw. Thanks to her prosthesis, Ombra is now able to live without limitations and has just as much fun as before with Giuseppe, practicing agility and obedience exercises.

© Emanuela Colombo - Image from the SUPERPETS : WHEN LIFE IS RESTORED THROUGHT A PROSTHESIS photography project
i

Akira is a stray. One morning Concetta found her alone sitting in front of her house. Unfortunately, the little dog had the misfortune of developing an infection in her hind leg and the only option was to amputate the limb. Concetta gave Akira a prosthesis to help her continue living without limitations. She immediately started using it and has gone on to live a happy and peaceful life.

© Emanuela Colombo - Image from the SUPERPETS : WHEN LIFE IS RESTORED THROUGHT A PROSTHESIS photography project
i

Daracha likely suffered an infection in her paw shortly after birth, andher mother, trying to heal it by licking it, accidentally caused the puppy’s toes to fall off, leaving her with only half of her paw pad.Now, thanks to the prosthesis built for her by DocMonkey, Daracha walks normally on all four legs.

© Emanuela Colombo - Image from the SUPERPETS : WHEN LIFE IS RESTORED THROUGHT A PROSTHESIS photography project
i

Mithril was born and raised on the streets of Calabria and, once taken to a shelter, was moved from one refuge to another until she arrived in northern Italy to be adopted. Mithril suffers from erosive polyarthritis, a disease that affects and wears down the joints and bones. She can only walk thanks to braces, as the joints in her front legs are now completely unusable.

© Emanuela Colombo - Image from the SUPERPETS : WHEN LIFE IS RESTORED THROUGHT A PROSTHESIS photography project
i

Quattro is the only survivor of a litter of four dachshunds born with deformities. Quattro was born with a minor deformity in one front paw. Simona, the owner of his mother, decided to keep him and cared for him lovingly from the very beginning. Quattro’s prosthesis is the result of an experiment by DocMonkey, created by studying the puppy’s condition and adapting the device to his needs.