For artists and collectors sponsored by Intercal...your mohair supplier and Johnna's Mohair Store
What a brave little girl!!
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
it 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.
What a lovely story Denise ~ but so very, very sad.
Molly must be an amazing horse to endure all she went through.
Glad that Molly pulled through and don't you just love the smiley hoof print.
Hugs
Carolyn
Awwwww! This is one wonderful horse. Molly is amazing, bless her heart, such a wonderful animal and all the wonderful people who have worked with her getting her walking on four legs again. Now that's really brightened my day.
Hugs, Jane.
oh my gosh, Molly is an amazing horse, withstanding all that pain - horses are such intelligent beauties
Catherine x
AMAZING!!
Leeann
What a wonderful story of strength and compassion. Molly is an amazing little horse. God Bless Molly and those who helped to bring her a better life.
What an amazing little horse, Bless her!!!
What a wonderful story, you do not have to be a horse lover to enjoy the will of that sweet Molly. I copied it and sent it to all my family. I have a neice that loves horses so I made sure she got a copy.
Thanx for sharing it.
Bravo for Molly and the kind people who saw that she got what she needed. Now she gives back a hundred fold to those who need inspiration. That's a nice feel-good ending.
OMG -( she says, thru' the tears) what an amazing little horse ...........it's so lovely that she survived all of this !
And the smiley "hoof"...........what a wonderful idea
thanks for posting the story, Denise
huggies
Maria
What a lovely and brave pony
Laurie :hug:
Hi Denise,
Aaawwww, sniff, sniff, sob, sob, smile .............. Bless her little cotton socks ......... What a wonderful story, I could sob all day reading such beautiful tales of our wonderful four legged friends, or should I say three in this case!!!
Thank you for sharing this.
Hugs
Marilyn
I know how you all feel, I get teary everytime I look at Molly's photo :cry:...such a brave little pony, God love her! and all those wonderful caring people that helped her survive this terrible ordeal.
So pleased that Molly was able to get help.
Lynette