Meet Duncan the boxer:

Three-month-old boxer Duncan Lou Who was born with severely deformed back legs. On Tuesday he had surgery to remove them and within hours was romping around, balanced on his FRONT legs. Duncan came from Colorado to Panda Paws Rescue in Vancouver, Wash. over the weekend. Panda Paws takes in special needs dogs, gets medical care for them and finds adoptive homes. Amanda Giese at Panda Paws says Duncan’s severely deformed legs caused damage to his spine, and he would have ended up in excruciating pain without the surgery.

On Tuesday Dr. Brandon Sherman removed Duncan’s legs entirely from the hip sockets (Duncan was also neutered). Amanda’s daughter, 9-year-old Jade, read stories to the little pup to comfort him as he awoke from anesthesia. (Jade’s goal is to be a veterinarian for a nonprofit.) Hours after surgery, Duncan was playing and walking on his front legs, using his tail to help him balance. “He's happy, playful, pain-free, joyful and a normal puppy in every other way,” Amanda says. Amanda reassures people who are concerned about little Duncan. “He was elevating and carrying his bad back legs around so now, this is thousands times easier without the weight. It is LESS strain on his body and healthier for him in the long run,” she said.

Duncan’s recovery will take a few weeks and then he’ll have about a month of physical therapy and hydrotherapy after that to help correct the contortion to his lower spine. He will then be fitted with a wheelchair.