A high school robotics leader just changed the game for one shelter dog. Sixteen-year-old Sarah Barros engineered a 3D-printed prosthetic leg to help a pit bull mix named Tryla walk with confidence—and maybe even find a forever home.
This all started when a school counselor approached Barros with a challenge. A local shelter had a three-legged dog in need, and Barros, a rising star in design engineering, was the perfect fit for the job. She didn’t hesitate.
Tryla, a six-year-old pit bull mix, lost her front right leg—likely after being hit by a car. Her owner couldn’t care for her anymore, so she ended up at the Southampton Animal Shelter in Hampton Bays, New York. Two years later, she was still waiting for the right person to take her home.
Barros got to work. She studied weight distribution in dogs, took precise measurements, and tested multiple designs. Some models pinched Tryla’s skin, while others didn’t align properly with her joints. One by one, she refined the prosthetic until it fit just right.
Shelter staff quickly noticed a difference. The prosthetic gave Tryla more stability, helping her stay active throughout the day. It also made her more adoptable—because, let’s face it, most people overlook a “special needs” dog.
Amy Beth Stern, a director at the shelter, described Tryla as a sweetheart who just needed a little extra help. With the new prosthetic, she finally has a real shot at finding a permanent home.
Barros didn’t just build a leg—she built a future for a dog who had all but been forgotten.
Five Fast Facts
- 3D printing technology dates back to the 1980s but has only recently become affordable for personal projects.
- Pit bulls were once known as “nanny dogs” due to their loyalty and protective nature with children.
- The largest recorded dog prosthetic surgery involved a Great Dane who received four artificial paws.
- Southampton Animal Shelter has been operating for over 50 years, rescuing thousands of animals.
- Some robotic prosthetics for dogs are now equipped with AI to help with movement adaptation.
