Rottweiler walks again after receiving prosthetic limbs

LOVELAND, Colo. -- A Rottweiler named Brutus has a brand new set of limbs.

Laura Aquilina, the dog's foster owner, says Brutus' breeder left him out in extreme temperatures as a baby. As a result, he got frostbite on all four paws. Rather than take Brutus to a vet, his breeder performed an at-home amputation.

"The cruel "breeders" decided the best option was to chop off his toes with an axe or other crude obect [sic]. Brutus was left mamed [sic] and crippled and due to the poor way in which this was done, he is in pain every day of his life," Aquilina wrote on the dog's fundraising page.

More than $12,500 has been donated for Brutus' prosthetic limbs and physical therapy. The foster family told ABC affiliate KMGH-TV that they plan to adopt him.

Brutus is the second dog to ever receive four prosthetic limbs, according to a statement from Colorado State University, which is helping with his treatment.

"He is learning to walk again with help from OrthoPets, an animal prosthetics developer in Denver, and pet orthopedics experts at Colorado State University's James L. Voss Veterinary Teaching Hospital," read the statement.

In upcoming months, Brutus will go through underwater treadmill therapy, balance activities and other neuro re-education therapies, the statement said. These will help Brutus adjust to his new limbs.