The Horse with an Artificial Leg
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. LSU surgeon Rustin Moore met Molly and although he was already overwhelmed with other cases he agreed to help. 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. After the surgery Molly was introduced to the folks at the Bayou Orthotic and Prosthetic Center, which had never before made a prosthesis for an animal. They succeeded however and Molly uses the artificial limb on a regular basis. Molly walked out of the clinic and her story really begins there.
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. "The prosthetic has given Molly a whole new life", Allison Barca DVM reports. "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". 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. Kaye Harris, Molly's new owner, started taking the appaloosa to shelters, hospitals, nursing homes and rehabilitation centers. Anywhere she thought that people needed hope. Wherever Molly went she showed people her pluck. She inspires people and she has 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. Wherever Molly goes she leaves a smiley hoof print behind.
