Social Innovation Pathways of 3D Printing for Disabled Pet Welfare: A Social Enterprise Model Based on Low Cost Custom Prosthetic Paw Pads

Abstract

Disabled pets often face many obstacles when they want to get proper musculoskeletal aids; the main reason for this is the high price of available devices, and also that average pet owners have a hard time getting these without problems. This study mainly looks at how 3D printing technology, combined with the business model of social enterprises, can produce low-cost custom prosthesis paw pads for disabled companion animals, and at the same time shows the social innovation paths that come from this model. The research uses case analysis as its basic method, and all analysis materials were collected from publicly accessible industry reports, published company data, and existing scientific literature sources. This paper compares the full cost structure of existing veterinary orthopedic aids, and examines the production cost reduction potential of 3D printing technology. From the research data it can be seen that the cost of a fully manufactured custom prosthetic foot pad for pets using the traditional method lies between 1265 and 2125 US dollars; through digital manufacturing processes, optimized material use, and demand-oriented production, 3D printing technology can shorten the manufacturing time of the devices to a few hours or a few days. Social enterprises such as Bionic Pets and WIMBA, which are dedicated to the welfare of pets, have integrated parts of device production into their own manufacturing processes and at the same time use remote scanning technology in production, thereby fundamentally changing the traditional supply model for mobility aids for disabled pets. This paper creates a framework for social innovation with three levels: technical empowerment, business model, and social impact; this framework can provide social enterprises in the field of animal welfare with basic theoretical reference points for their practical work.