Tag Archive for: rescue calf

When I met Hope on Wednesday morning, the first thing I noticed besides the issue of her legs, were her eyes. They were odd – at times they would roll back under the socket and you could see much of the white of the eye. She didn’t seem to watch us move about, but she did seem attuned to noises. After she was carefully loaded into the SUV, I took her to the vet for tests. Once back at the farm, she settled into Betsy Rose’s stall.

Hope can get up on her own at times, with effort, but she doesn’t walk much and lays back down soon thereafter. She’s eating and drinking some, not enough in my opinion, but hopefully, that will improve. She seems most content when someone stays with her, and she simply loves to lay her head in my lap and have her face rubbed.

There appears to be neurological issues, so we will gather our team (optometrist, neurologist, traditional vet, and a holistic vet), to assess her overall health.  

Her crooked legs is one thing, but the apparent loss of vision and being wobbly in her backend and seemingly, being unaware as to where her legs are, is something else. Once we have reviewed all test results, we will plan a course of action.

It makes me sad that Hope was pretty much alone for almost four weeks – down on the ground lying in the scorching sun and even torrential rains. And during all these weeks, Hope didn’t wander from the spot where she was born which supports the thought that she may not be able to see – she had no clue as to where to go or what to do. And when her mom would go off to graze and get water, she was all alone.

She’s a very brave little girl. I’m very grateful to the humans who stepped up and contacted us and to the wonderful support from all of you.

I can’t tell you how sweet and trusting Hope is. She is simply precious. She needs prayers, lots of good energy, and likely, a miracle.

Thank you, all, so very much, for caring.

We Named Her Hope!

The little one had a tough time getting up yesterday morning.

She’s just precious.

She was gently picked up and loaded into the back of the SUV.

When I first saw Hope, I felt she had more issues than just contracted tendons. I will update as soon as she is seen by our team of veterinarians.

Someone reached out to us about a baby calf with contracted tendons that lays, alone, in a paddock everyday because she can’t walk. Her legs/tendons need to be stretched out several times a day. She may need splints – we don’t know yet. The mother goes off to graze and get water, but returns to give her baby a chance to nurse but as of late, she has been wandering off more frequently and has been gone a bit longer each day. Mom and baby should have been placed in a small area where the mom would be unable to wander too far and the baby’s chance of being hurt by other members of the herd, or even coyotes, would be greatly lessened.

A couple of good samaritans have been stopping by to help the baby get up and give her water. Yesterday, we learned that the owner, not wanting to be bothered with this baby, was going to give her to a neighbor who would fatten her up and use her for meat and her hide.

I couldn’t help it – we had to offer to take this baby.

We want to get her here today and get her settled in. Perhaps the sling and hands on manipulation will help her. Once she is better, and doesn’t need hands on manipulation throughout the day, we think we have a foster home she can go to until a permanent home is found. The thought of her not being mobile and laying in the hot sun, and in the rain, is maddening. She’s going to need milk replacer and vetting.

Would anyone like to pledge to help this precious little girl?

MORNING UPDATE
We need prayers for baby cow – she’s weak this am and couldn’t get up. The owner has finally agreed to release her and we’re getting ready to go get her. I’ll update when I can.

Thank you all for your love and support.