- November 6, 2024
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David Flores and Madysen Shields check the fitting of the prosthetic leg for Zeus as owner Cailin Kaklamanos looks on. Photos by Wayne Grant
Anatomy of Design class members that designed the prosthetic leg are Clayton Carson, Brianna Araujo, Madysen Shields, Noah Pulaski, David Flores, Jace Wilson and Rafael Alves. Shown with her dog, Zeus, is Cailin Kaklamanos.
Owner Cailin Kaklamanos gives Zeus a treat as teacher Courtney VandeBunte steadies the dog for a fitting for a prosthetic leg. Photo by Wayne Grant
Zeus, a 2-year-old black Lab, said hello to everyone in the classroom, walking up to them on his three legs with tail wagging and brown eyes shining. He was at the Anatomy of Design class at Flagler Palm Coast High School on May 1 to be fitted for a prosthetic leg.
The happy and healthy dog was much different when his owner, Cailin Kaklamanos, found him at an animal rescue. After being hit by a car, he lost his leg and was abandoned by his first owners. Now, after being brought back to health, his new owner hopes a new leg will give him a better life.
“I feel like I helped give a life back to a dog.”
NOAH PULASKI, student
At first Cailin wasn’t sure about adopting Zeus, who was sickly, but when she visited the rescue site over the next few weeks, Zeus always followed her around. She decided she had to have him.
“I fell in love with this dog,” she said.
Last year, the Anatomy of Design class, which is part of the i3 Academy at the school, designed a prosthetic leg for a 3-year-old German shepherd named Champ for a family in Green Cove Springs. Teacher Courtney VandeBunte had sought candidates for the project through veterinarians around the state.
Cailin saw a story about it when researching ways to help her dog and contacted VandeBunte, the science and art teacher who leads the Anatomy of Design class. Cailin drives from her Tallahassee home with her family to meet with the class.
‘HE GETS TUCKERED OUT’
Measurements were taken last fall, and the students then designed the parts of the leg and printed them on 3-D printers in the classroom. It could have been done sooner but there were printer problems.
Cailin said Zeus is a mix of Labrador retriever and great Swiss mountain dog, so he is bigger than the average Lab. She has to keep his weight down because he only has three legs.
“He gets tuckered out,” she said. “He’s very active and that makes him tired after walking.”
Her mother, Keely, pointed out that when Zeus lifts his back leg, when nature calls, he is very unsteady, balancing on two legs, and sometimes even falls.
VandeBunte said the class incorporated a spring and tennis ball into the design, to absorb the dog’s weight.
Student Noah Pulaski said the class was fun and he felt good about the end result.
“I feel like I helped give a life back to a dog,” he said.
Rafael Alves agreed, saying he put himself in the dog’s position, imagining what it would be like to miss a leg.
“It feels good,” he said.
PHYSICAL THERAPY
Champ, the dog that received a leg last year, was very energetic, and still gets along very well on three legs. VandeBunte said the owners only place the leg on him for long walks.
But she said that Zeus is the best candidate yet for a prosthetic.
“He needs it,” she said. “And he listens (to his owner).”
Zeus is the third recipient.
Last week, Elsa, a German shepherd, was fitted for a leg. The owner, from Jacksonville, also sought out the class after seeing last year’s story.
Both he and Zeus will both need some “physical therapy” to get the best use of the leg.
VandeBunte instructed Cailin and her family how to get Zeus used to the new leg, such as handing him a treat in a way that makes him lean on the new leg.
Cailin has done a lot for the dog already, and now seems committed to working with him for a new life with four legs.
The Anatomy of Design class is part of the i3 Academy, which stands for "Institute for Integrated Investigations." It’s a “new tech” approach to education where students work as a team in a project-based learning system.
VandeBunte said the academy integrates modern skills, such as collaboration and communication, with state academic standards. There are currently 140 students over four grade levels at the school. In the class, the students design products related to human or animal anatomy and create them with 3-D printers.
