Putting the 7-year-old fawn pug to sleep was an option because he was so ill, but his owners never considered it.

Today, Bud is recuperating and has a new prosthetic paw. He's the first animal that Salt Lake City-based Specialized Prosthetic and Orthotic Technologies (SPOT) has worked with in making an artificial foot.

"We hope it will help Bud get back to his old self," said Pam Langlois, who with her husband, Jim, raised Bud at her Sandy home with their four sons.

Jim Liston, SPOT's founder, at first hesitated to get involved at the request of an employee at Bud's veterinary clinic. "I've seen plenty of happy, three-legged dogs," he said.

But he became convinced that Bud, because he is barrel-chested and big-boned, might need the extra support to hold himself up and get around. The device is made of leather, Velcro, flexible carbon fiber and shoe-soling material.

"The biggest challenge with a dog is they may have a tendency to chew it off," Liston said. "In Bud's case, fortunately, he hasn't chewed his bandage, so that gave me the confidence he would tolerate a prosthesis."

No longer depressed and lethargic, Bud is learning to walk on his new foot.

The family was so dedicated to keeping Bud alive and improving his quality of life because of Bud's strong compassion for and connection to the family. The beloved dog helped Pam's son, Eric, 20, when he was battling bone cancer during high school.

"Bud never left his side," Pam said. "When Eric sneezed, Bud would nudge the tissue box toward him."

The family even snuck Bud into Eric's hospital bed at Primary Children's Medical Center one night. He hid under the sheets, but was discovered when the doctor heard the snorting sounds so characteristic of the Chinese breed.

"Bud just latched onto Eric," Pam said. "Bud knew that was his job. That's why we'd never give up on him. Everybody deserves a second chance."

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Contact Carey Hamilton at chamilton@sltrib.com or 801-257-8605. Send comments about this story to livingeditor@sltrib .com.