Derby the dog runs for the first time thanks to 3D-printed prosthetics,

First there was Buttercup the duck. Now there’s a new cool kid in town with 3D-printed limbs.

Meet Derby.

Derby was born with small front legs and no front paws. The congenital deformity made it impossible for him to get around on surfaces that weren’t soft.

But thanks to the 3D printing company 3D Systems, which designed a custom set of legs for the pup, Derby can finally go for a run.

Derby was brought to Peace and Paws Dog Rescue in April after his owners could no longer care for him. He quickly found a foster home with Tara Anderson, director of CJP Project Management at 3D Systems.

“I kept looking at his photo, and hearing his story, and I cried literally every time,” Anderson said. “I had to try and help this dog.”

Anderson first got Derby a cart, which helped him get around, but limited his ability to interact with other dogs.

Anderson knew that 3D printing would make it possible to quickly design and print prosthetics to meet Derby’s unique needs. After a few experiments with different shapes, 3D Systems came up with “elbow cups” that would fit over Derby’s deformed legs, and a loop design that would prevent the braces from digging into the ground.

"The beauty of 3-D printing is that if the design needs to be adjusted, we don’t have to wait for time-consuming and expensive traditional manufacturing processes; we can simply print out a new set,” said Buddy Byrum, a VP at the company.

This August, Derby was adopted by Sherri and Dom Portanova. The Portanovas saw Derby through the final stages of the 3D-printing process. And while it took some time for Derby to get used to his new legs, the Portanovas have been quite impressed with the final outcome.

"He runs with Sherri and I every day, at least two to three miles," Dom Portanova said. “When I saw him sprinting like that on his new legs it was just amazing. I couldn’t believe it!”

"This is what 3D printing is all about," said Anderson. “To be able to help anybody; a dog, person, whoever, to have a better life, there is no better thing to be involved in.”