Tortoise Sports New Lego 'Wheelchair'

One disabled tortoise is getting a new lease on life after being fitted with a Lego "wheelchair" that now lets him ride around with ease.

Iris Peste noticed her pet turtle Blade, a 127-gram Greek tortoise, struggling to move around and so decided to take him to her local veterinarian in Germany. There, Dr. Carsten Plischke diagnosed Blade with a metabolic bone disease that caused his limbs to become so weak he could no longer hold himself up.

"The bones were like rubber and the musculature had clearly diminished," Plischke told CNET. "That's why he couldn't pick up himself and walk anymore."

Inspired by his son's Lego toys, Plischke got creative and used the plastic building blocks to craft a makeshift wheelchair that would restore Blade's mobility. The device consists of six pieces - including four wheels with tire treads - glued to the underside of the little tortoise's shell.

The special adhesive Plischke used will allow Blade to move around, using his legs for direction and momentum, while his limbs gain their strength back. Eventually, his training wheels will come off and he will be good as new.

"For people there are walkers, rollators or prostheses but for animals there are no companies that produce something like that," Plischke said. "The size variation of animals means they can't establish uniform products. So you have to come up with creative solutions; every animal needs its own treatment."

Blade is still wheeling around and kickin' it, sporting some seriously fashionable red and black Legos.

You can watch Blade on the move in a video here.

This isn't the first time a disabled animal has been given a new set of wheels. A tiny Chihuahua puppy, appropriately named Turbo Roo, that was born without front limbs got custom wheels in August made out of toy car parts.

And back in May Frostie the baby goat was fitted with a customized wheelchair thanks to a non-profit group after an umbilical infection caused him to lose the use of his hind legs. Sadly, Frostie died just a month later.

But all these stories show how all it takes is just a little creativity and some heart to give nature a second chance.

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