My Bionic Pet

Gr 5 Up—By the fifth grade, most students have seen artificial human limbs, but a dog with prosthetic front legs or a pig whose hindquarters are supported by a small wheeled cart will be new to most viewers. This captivating DVD covers more than just pets, and follows dedicated specialists and caring humans who see themselves not as animal owners, but as their guardians. The film is fascinating on two fronts: first, from a technical standpoint of how the prosthetics are created and fitted, and how the animals adapt to them; and second, from the "innovation" standpoint. How would one fashion a new beak for a swan (after a snapping turtle incident), restoring its ability to eat and preen, or craft a new tail for an alligator, decreasing spinal stress and allowing the reptile to swim? Ethical issues are addressed, such as whether money might better be spent on improving human lives and how one knows if an animal is "happier" with new limbs and the increased mobility. While the science is compelling, there is equal value in using the film to support an innovative "makerspace" mentality, assessing problems, and thinking of creative solutions, and the length is ideal for many class periods. Viewers can't help but cheer as piglet Chris P. Bacon snuffles about with his wheeled cart, or as dogs like Roofus and Driftwood run with new prosthetic legs. Closed captions and video descriptions can be enabled, making this accessible to a broad audience.—Maggie Knapp, Trinity Valley School, Fort Worth, TX