Pup That Used to 'Hop Like a Kangaroo' Gets Prosthetic Paws

— -- An adorable pup named Journey is now able to run like other dogs after being fitted with special prosthetic legs.

The Shiba Inu/Jundo mix lost her front paws after she set on fire along with her siblings and was the only survivor.

Marilyn Hendrickson, director of donations at the MEOW Cat Rescue shelter in Seattle, heard about the story and took in Journey, even after flying to South Korea to pick her up.

"When she arrived here, we looked at her paws and we knew here was no way to live a normal life," she said.

Without her front paws Journey couldn't stand on four legs without pain so she took up the habit of jumping on her hind legs "hopping around like a kangaroo," according to the MEOW Cat Shelter.

Hendrickson said they knew they need to try something else so they reached out to a company that specializes in prosthetics for pets and were able to get two new front legs formed for Journey.

Initially Journey was not pleased with her new feet.

"Then all of a sudden she got very still and it was like a light bulb went off in her head," said Hendrickson. "She said, 'Hey maybe this is a good thing...'She started walking across the room."

Hendrickson said they have been slowly increasing the time Journey spends in her prostheics to build up muscles. While the pup had a to have a small amputtion on her right front paw, she remains on the mend and now loves running in her paws. She's even running her first 5K race in the fall.

"She’s very outgoing and very friendly and very social," said Hendrickson. "She’s so happy that if her name wasn’t journey I would name her happy."