Molly - the inspirational three legged horse

May 31, 2011

This came to us via email, and we enjoyed it enough we thought it was worthy of sharing. I think Molly's determination and pluck show why we love and admire animals! Note: Dr. Rowan often sees amazingly functional three legged dogs, but this horse is a first! Meet Molly.She's a grey speckled pony who was abandoned by her owners when Hurricane Katrina hit southern Louisiana . She spent weeks on her own before finally being rescued and taken to a farm where abandoned animals were stockpiled... while there, she was attacked by a pit bull terrier and almost died. Her gnawed right front leg became infected, and her vet went to LSU for help, but LSU was overwhelmed, and this pony was a welfare case. You know how that goes. But after surgeon Rustin Moore met Molly, he changed his mind. He saw how the pony was careful to lie down on different sides so she didn't seem to get sores, and how she allowed people to handle her. She protected her injured leg. She constantly shifted her weight and didn't overload her good leg. She was a smart pony with a serious survival ethic. Moore agreed to remove her leg below the knee, and a temporary artificial limb was built. Molly walked out of the clinic and her story really begins there. 'This was the right horse and the right owner,' Moore insists. Molly happened to be a one-in-a-million patient. She's tough as nails, but sweet, and she was willing to cope with pain. She made it obvious she understood that she was in trouble.The other important factor, according to Moore , is having a truly committed and compliant owner who is dedicated to providing the daily care required over the lifetime of the horse. Molly's story turns into a parable for life in Post-Katrina Louisiana ......The little pony gained weight, and her mane finally felt a comb. A human prosthesis designer built her a leg. The prosthetic has given Molly a whole new life, Allison Barca DVM, Molly's regular vet, reports.

And she asks for it. She will put her little limb out, and come to you and let you know that she wants you to put it on. Sometimes she wants you to take lt off too. And sometimes, Molly gets away from Barca. 'It can be pretty bad when you can't catch a three-legged horse,' she laughs. Most important of all, Molly has a job now. Kay, the rescue farm owner, started taking Molly to shelters, hospitals, nursing homes, and rehabilitation centers. Anywhere she thought that people needed hope. Wherever Molly went, she showed people her pluck. She inspired people, and she had a good time doing it. 'It's obvious to me that Molly had a bigger role to play in life, Moore said. She survived the hurricane, she survived a horrible injury, and now she is giving hope to others.' Barca concluded, 'She's not back to normal, but she's going to be better...To me, she could be a symbol for New Orleans itself.' 

 

This is Molly's most recent prosthesis. The bottom photo shows the ground surface that she stands on, which has a smiley face embossed in it.. Wherever Molly goes, she leaves a smiley hoof print behind.






Also in Natural Pet Health Blog

Wildfire Season: Pets & Smoke plus our Evacuation Prep List
Wildfire Season: Pets & Smoke plus our Evacuation Prep List

August 11, 2024

Okanagan summers mean beaches, boating and often, smokey skies. It can be scary to try and manage the smoke for our family members, including our fur kids - read on for our tips for keeping fur kids safe and how to prepare a "go bag" (see our checklist on the Pet Evacuation Printable Prep List) to be prepared in the event of an evacuation.

View full article →

US Travel Requirements for Dogs 🇺🇸
US Travel Requirements for Dogs 🇺🇸

June 24, 2024

As of August 1, 2024, the American Centre for Disease Control (CDC)'s new rules will be in effect, impacting the vaccines, titre testing, and timing of your dog's travel to the USA.

View full article →

Passionate About Wholesome Nutrition
Passionate About Wholesome Nutrition

May 22, 2024

We love offering loads of options - customized recipes and a range of dry, canned, raw, and even freeze-dried, wholesome foods for your fur kids. As a raw-positive clinic, our vets and staff support balanced and wholesome raw feeding with in-depth knowledge and support for pet parents. 

View full article →

Get Your Top 6 Tips for Healthy Pets

Sign up for our newsletter and get our top tips free!