WEST ORANGE, NJ – Thanks to a collaboration between the Technology and Engineering Department at West Orange High School, DiveDesigns, and Creature Comfort Pet Therapy, Codey the Tripod Dog will receive a new prosthetic leg.
Owned by Karen Clark of Creature Comfort Pet Therapy, Codey was a street rescue from Puerto Rico who had his front leg amputated.
“The development of the prosthetic is being completed within our advanced Engineering and Design Solutions course, but the groundwork truly starts in our Introduction to Engineering course,” began Supervisor of Technology and Engineering Ryan del Guercio.
Students can take Introduction to Engineering in their freshman year. In that course, they are tasked with the challenge of designing a prosthetic for a stuffed animal that emulates the movements and needs of real-life animals such as dogs, turtles, dolphins, leopards, and more,” he said.
“As students progress through the engineering program (Intro to Engineering, Principles of Engineering) and into our third-level Engineering and Design Solutions course, our goal is to deepen their understanding of design principles, materials, and prosthetics by elevating the challenge to designing prosthetics for live animals,” he continued.
The Technology and Engineering Department formed a partnership with DiveDesign, a product development studio located in Boonton that specializes in creating innovative hardware solutions through cutting-edge manufacturing technologies. Students met with the owners and toured the facility.
“DiveDesign will be guiding our students through the prosthetic design process, offering valuable feedback, and potentially fabricating a prosthetic for Codey. This hands-on experience provides our students with real-world learning opportunities while making a meaningful impact by aiding an animal in distress,” explained DelGuercio.
“We take pride in creating innovative projects that benefit our community, and this collaboration with DiveDesign exemplifies our commitment to meaningful and impactful educational experiences for our students,” he concluded.
Codey the Tripod Dog
Owner Catherine Clark with Codey and students
Advanced Engineering and Design students with teacher Catherine Gardner, Supervisor of Technology and Engineering Ryan del Guercio, and Codey.
