Buttercup the duck lives Arlington, Tennessee in a sanctuary called Feathered Angels Waterfowl Sanctuary. After being born with a backward left foot, Buttercup’s owner, Mike Garey made the decision to amputate the foot in February. The decision was based on the well being of the duck because if Buttercup were to keep the foot it would be prone to infection and would be painfull for the animal. Garey said:

With his deformed foot, he would have been in pain and had constant cuts and foot infections walking on the side of it even at our sanctuary here, and foot infections on these guys is always a serious matter.

Buttercup’s new foot design was based on the duck’s sister’s foot and it was then moulded with the aid of 3D software. Once Garey had completed the design it was sent to NovaCopy, a 3D printing company where the mould of the foot was printed and donated to Buttercup. The mould was used to cast a silicone foot as the foot needs to be flexible and it would then be attached to Buttercup’s stump like a silicone seath. Garey said:

This version will have a stretchy silicone sock instead of the finger trap, which will roll up on his leg, be inserted into the foot and then have a fastener in the bottom.

Buttercup’s new foot is set to arrive very soon.

[Source: CNN, CNet]