Stephen Breetzke is the founder and driving force behind Pawthotics NZ, New Zealand’s pioneering provider of custom-made orthotic and prosthetic devices for animals. With a mission to restore mobility, reduce pain, and bring joy back to pets and their families, Stephen crafts bespoke braces and prosthetics that help dogs and other animals recover from injury, surgery, or congenital conditions. A highly experienced clinical orthotist-prosthetist, Stephen brings more than 20 years of expertise from clinical settings in South Africa and New Zealand. In Africa he worked on challenging humanitarian projects, delivering prosthetic care to landmine survivors and victims of conflict across Southern and Central Africa. He has also collaborated with Paralympic athletes, designing high-performance solutions that push the boundaries of what’s possible in human mobility. Stephen’s passion for animal rehabilitation was ignited years ago in South Africa when he created a prosthetic limb for an injured Southern Ground Hornbill – a rare and majestic bird. That landmark case sparked a deep interest in veterinary orthotics and prosthetics, eventually leading him to establish Pawthotics NZ in Invercargill in 2023. Today, through Pawthotics NZ and his human-focused practice, Stephen continues to blend clinical precision, innovative design, and genuine compassion. Proudly South African by birth and a passionate adopted Kiwi, Stephen is motivated by one simple belief: every animal deserves the same chance at mobility that we offer humans.