posted by Stacy on Mar 29
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.
Forward this and share it with all of the animal lovers that you know
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March 31st, 2009 at 2:26 am
Thank you for sharing such a beautiful. Once again, it seems we humans can learn a lot from the resilience and love of an animal.
April 1st, 2009 at 12:09 am
Its really awesome to fix artificial legs for molly, thanks for the great article ,
very nice Information
April 5th, 2009 at 9:23 pm
Its sad to think about all the animals that were left when Katrina came. It’s good to see a positive outcome every now and then. Thanks for the story and video.
April 14th, 2009 at 11:48 pm
That’s amazing and so touchy and inspiring. Mom gonna love this one. One of my co-volunteer in the nearby shelter, they rescued and adopted a month old koala who survived the fire.
April 20th, 2009 at 3:36 am
Great article. I have seen this before but I love reading it every time. What a wonderful thing to do for this horse. Thanks so much for telling this.
April 22nd, 2009 at 11:54 pm
First time i saw that kind of artificial leg on animals are use by dogs.. its great to see some people providing comforts to any animal disabilities..
May 14th, 2009 at 9:36 am
This really is an inspirational story and how I love horses. I hope you will continue your blog; I noticed that it hasn’t been updated since March 29th, nearly 2 months. Keep up the good work in helping others become more aware of these animals. I wish you all the best!
May 17th, 2009 at 4:15 pm
Wonderful story!
Thanks for posting it.
May 23rd, 2009 at 8:32 pm
Molly the 3 legged horse leaves a smile wherever she walks…
This brave little pony comes out on top with a prosthesis with a happy face on the bottom….
May 26th, 2009 at 12:41 am
It has been a while since I visit and today, I found this inspiring animal story to share with everyone. It is such a miracle.
May 27th, 2009 at 8:26 am
This is so cool! It’s amazing how we have come far enough in society to see the real meaning of this animal. Before it would had be shot and that would had been it. Things have changed so much today.
May 31st, 2009 at 7:39 am
What an inspirational story. This story makes me smile and feel warm about how we all have the ability to adapt.
June 17th, 2009 at 2:31 pm
My sweet gelding always smiles around kids, especially my granddaughter with autism, and she loves him! I do wish that the report had just said that Molly was mauled by a “dog” without having to use the term Pit Bull. They get too much of a bad rap and makes it harder to rescue and place them when they can truly be very sweet family dogs. I know, I had one and he was a total cream puff!
June 26th, 2009 at 8:36 am
Wow! Molly has a great heart to be through all this and still have a loving and caring attitude! This story is amazing!!!!!!!
June 26th, 2009 at 8:44 am
This is amazing! Talk about miracles. Molly is soooo unbelievable to have made it this far and to inspire people like she does….
June 26th, 2009 at 8:46 am
This is amazing! Talk about miracles. Molly is soooo unbelievable to have made it this far and to inspire people like she does…. I would like to have a “WONDERFUL” pony like that one day.
June 30th, 2009 at 11:23 am
Way to go Molly!!! Molly is such an inspiration to us all! Animal cruelty needs to stop!
July 21st, 2009 at 1:11 pm
This story just broke my heart and made my day. Isn’t it amazing how tragedies can turn into heart-warming stories? The human efforts and compassion that have gone into rescuing this incredible horse do nothing less than renew my faith in humanity. Who would’ve imagined, even 20 years ago, a prosthetic for a HORSE?!!?
August 31st, 2009 at 10:56 am
this lilttle horse has been through hell but she has manged to make it through she is tough and brave b/c most horses would of gave up and not tried but she keep going. “never back down its always worth it.” she is a great horse and she is very inspiring i love her and her abilitys
September 2nd, 2009 at 1:13 pm
ohhh poor thing im so glad shes alive shes a fighter shes a wonderfull horse
September 7th, 2009 at 8:39 am
New website freestuff4animals.com to help animals and animal owners. If an animal owner has an item they are not using, they can post it on the website for no charge. To get or trade an animal item there is an annual fee of $4.95 of which $1.00 will go to animal rescues.
Please help other animals and animal owners. Thank You!
October 13th, 2009 at 7:35 am
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October 24th, 2009 at 1:57 pm
what a great storey i just love it when you hear of good things that happen to our animals in stead of all the evil things that happens,what a brave little pony.
November 23rd, 2009 at 2:43 am
It really touched me. Molly, i hope i can be just like you, to live strong and happy with all the minuses..