Are wheelchairs are just for people? This young man is giving disabled animals a free rein to run and play again with the prosthetics he makes.
A young Turkish man from the Mardin province is working selflessly to give a new lease of life to disabled animals and help put them back on their feet. 22-year-old Hasan Kızıl has been building prosthetic and orthotic devices for animals for free with only his own means.
He’s been on a mission to give disabled pets and other animals the opportunity for more mobile lives. Kızıl said he uses any material around, including washing machine pieces, aluminum pipes and bike wheels. Using unconventional materials and everyday items has clearly helped boost his creativity. For example, he has made a prosthetic leg out of a hose for a one-legged eagle, and even used cabinet casters for a turtle with no back legs.
“No matter what animal it is, just give me one week and I’ll design it [a prosthetic], build it and send it”, he says. But as much he likes a challenge, Kızıl says that he occasionally asks for help and advice from his vet friends in Istanbul and Mardin.
Kızıl describes watching the animals walk for the first time as a ‘beautiful’ and incredible moment. “At first they are scared of walking, but in five minutes they start running,” he says.
Kızıl says he wants to develop bionic legs for animals who cannot use any of their four legs, making it a historic first in animal health. He plans to incorporate biosensor technology into his designs with the help of engineers. The young man said he missed the registration deadline for the nationwide university entrance exams last year because he found a wounded cat on the streets and took it to the vet for treatment. If he manages to get enough points, Kızıl said he wants to study veterinary science and medicine.
COMMENTS