Ariel, a unique dog born with six legs, gained worldwide attention last October when she was found abandoned in a parking lot at just 11 weeks old.
Emma-Mary Webster and Ollie Bird, surf instructors who teach people with disabilities at Blue Horizons Surf Club in Pembrokeshire, decided to adopt Ariel. The couple had recently lost their 16-year-old dog, Pippin, and were looking to fill the void he left in their lives.
More Info: Blue Horizons CIC
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“We were heartbroken and thought we’d never get another dog, but Pippin left such a huge hole in our lives that we realized we had to try,” said Ollie. They reached out to Greenacres Rescue, and soon after, a volunteer suggested Ariel as a perfect match.
At first, Emma-Mary and Ollie didn’t know about Ariel’s story. “She came for a home visit and made herself comfortable right away. We had no idea we had a celebrity in our midst,” Ollie added.
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When Ollie took Ariel for walks along the coastline, many people recognized her and asked for selfies. Ariel enjoyed the attention and loved the beach life.
“Ariel adores the attention and loves splashing around in the water,” Ollie said.
Ariel quickly became a star at Blue Horizons Surf Club, which offers adaptive surf lessons and boat trips for people with various physical and mental disabilities.
“Ariel loves being part of the lessons. She’s always a big hit with everyone we take out on the waves and never stops wanting to play,” Ollie shared, adding that Ariel gets excited whenever she sees her leash.
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Ariel got her name from Disney’s Little Mermaid character because her partially fused extra back legs resembled a mermaid’s tail.
Ariel’s story touched people worldwide, leading to donations from places as far away as New York and Australia. About £15,000 was raised for a life-changing surgery at Langford Vets Small Animal Referral Hospital in Somerset.
“Ariel was a complicated case that required collaboration across several specialist teams. We’re delighted she’s recovered well,” said Vicki Black, the hospital director.
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Thanks to the successful surgery, Ariel can now enjoy her second chance at life by the sea.
“Other than a tiny bit of nerve damage in one of her back legs, you’d never think anything was wrong with her,” Ollie said.
Emma-Mary and Ollie have been helping people with disabilities catch waves for over 25 years. Now, thanks to them, Ariel is riding the wave of a lifetime too.
