Cindy makes the most of life without hind leg

SENSATIONAL: Robyn Dorday and her three-legged-poodle Cindy have been given a new lease on life. PHOTO/WARREN BUCKLAND

A miniature poodle who lost a hind leg after being hit by a car is now creating a "sensation" everywhere she goes.

This is because nine-year-old Cindy rides in style; in a stroller specifically for dogs which had changed both her and owner Robyn Dorday's lives.

"She brings out a smile in everyone ... she's the centre of attention wherever we go."

Cindy used to love to run but walking long distances had become a struggle since the accident. With the stroller, Mrs Dorday could now take Cindy into supermarkets, cafes, and shops.

She had even received a special consent from Napier Council for the pair to take the bus.

"Just being able to take her around town is brilliant.

"It's just given me a whole new lease on life."

But caring for Cindy hadn't been cheap, with Mrs Dorday estimating she'd spent around $5000 on the poodle in her lifetime.

But she said: "It's worth the cost to have my dog with me."

While in the stroller, Cindy also wore a harness in case they needed to make an emergency toilet stop.

"I can just lift her out and she's still safe," said Mrs Dorday.

Cindy was hit by a car near Anderson Park three years ago by a young female driver who Mrs Dorday thought had been using a cellphone.

Cindy had been groomed the day before and her collar was loose. When the car came too close, she threw her head out of it and ran.

"I just expected to see a squashed red mess, I was screaming," she said.

"But there she was, just sitting in the middle of the road."

Cindy was left with a broken foot which was amputated the next day, while Mrs Dorday was left sleeping on a mattress next to Cindy for three months while she recovered.

Though Cindy was now agile on three legs she had faced ongoing health issues including urinary tract infections, and a sore back which requires regular massages.

Mrs Dorday thought Cindy's story was about more than a being a "sensation", but thought other dog owners could learn from her experience.

She recommended others with dogs who were sick, or unable to walk, should invest in a stroller.