Someday, someone should sit ‘Wiki' down and tell him a few doggie truths. How close he came to doggie heaven, how the needle of doggie doom hovered over him, hovered very low.

But at the moment, Wiki doesn't give a doggie doo.

One month ago he was unloved, alone and badly broken – literally – and on the brink of being put down. Today, he's having his own press conference with The Weekend Sun and he has a foster mum and an adoptive mum fussing and effusing over him.

'He's got a sensitive stomach so not too many treats,” says Shelley Broadbent to Jess Zinsli. Foster mum and new mum are swapping parental notes.

Life sucked for Wiki – Wiki after cricket wickets, three of them. That's right. He has three legs. 'Life did suck,” says Shelley.

Because Wiki was presented to the Western Bay of Plenty District Council animal services officers one month ago. He had a compound fracture of the hind leg – it was nasty – bones protruding. He had been dinged by a car.

Wiki's time on earth came down to dollars and cents. And sausage sizzles. Again, literally. His owners couldn't afford the $900 to get him fixed. So the council's animal service officers Betty Hall and Melissa Murton went cap in hand to the agencies. Again no joy. It looked like Wiki was on his way out.

That was until they fired up the barbie for a sausage sizzle at council HQ, appropriately at Barkes Corner. There were mufti days and photo booths. Collective concern transformed into save-his-skin dollars, hundreds of them, Tauranga Vets kicked in with a subsidy and Wiki went under the knife. The Foxy emerged with just three legs at his four corners. But more importantly for Wiki, life wouldn't 'suck” any more.

'He was a scrawny wee runt but he's come a long way,” says foster mum Shelley. A measure of his rehab is the way he pees. He balances on his front legs, lifts his one good back leg and does his business. That's not bodily function, that's an act.

And a measure of his personality is that Wiki did not once bite, growl or snap during the surgical procedure to amputate his leg. And he must have endured a bit.

Then the moment that choked us all. Foster Mum hands over Wiki to his new mum, Jess Zinsli of Hamilton. Jess is also mum to Brenda, a council staffer, who brokered the adoption.

There's also a bag – goodies, a dog's bits and bobs.

'I immediately liked him,” says Jess. 'I have always taken on runts and waifs and strays.” Wiki is in good hands. He's off for a life of pampering in Hamilton after a very close brush with his own mortality.

'He's very socialised, he loves other dogs. And keep him on a lead til he gets used to things.” The advice is offered with goodwill and accepted graciously.

The council's animal services officers are always looking for new people to foster dogs. 'Most rewarding work,” says Betty. Call them at the Western Bay of Plenty District Council on 07 571 8008.