Denver Zoo bids farewell to late 3-legged African painted dog Nigel
Incident Date:
10/19/2026
Location:
Denver, CO - USA
Facility Name:
Denver Zoo
Facility Type:
Accredited AZA Facility (AZA)
Incident Category:
Animal Death (AD)
Species:
Other
Animal:
African Painted Dog
Animal disposition:
Dead
Summary:
DENVER, CO – Nigel, a three-legged African painted dog who was kept at the Denver Zoo since his birth there in 2017, has been euthanized after experiencing health problems.
Nigel dealt with significant health challenges beginning early in his life, including severe hip dysplasia that required the amputation of his right hind leg in 2018.
The painted dog began experiencing increasing difficulty using his remaining hind leg in recent weeks and, despite supportive care, his condition worsened.
Action take by Born Free USA:
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