SANTA CLARITA, Calif., March 27, 2015 /PRNewswire/ — Ten weeks since his recue, Dudley, the young cow who was suffering from a severed foot, is now on his way to recovery after receiving top-notch medical support and a custom-made prosthesis. Unattended for months in a cold and muddy pasture on a ranch in Tennessee, Dudley was rescued by celebrated California based, non-profit, The Gentle Barn (www.gentlebarn.org) and admitted to the University of Tennessee’s Veterinary Hospital where his severed foot was surgically amputated and was fitted with a prosthetic foot.
“We are pleased to announce that Dudley is now safe and recovering,” said Dr. Anderson DVM, MS, DACVS, Head of Large Animal Clinical Services, who performed the surgery on Dudley, “The next stage of recovery is crucial as Dudley adjusts to walking and improves his balance and strengthens his muscles with his prosthetic foot.”
Ronnie Graves, fellow amputee and owner of VIP Veterinary Inclusive Prosthetics and Orthopedics, designed and built the custom foot for Dudley. When Dudley’s prosthetic foot was not fitting him perfectly, Mr. Graves worked hard on making the appropriate adjustments to Dudley’s leg and large, growing body.
“This part of Dudley’s recovery is so hard because he is in the process of adjusting to his prosthesis. We just want him to come home already,” explains Ellie Laks, founder of The Gentle Barn. “We are so close, but not there yet. We must be patient through the process and offer encouragement to Dudley while he bravely continues his rehabilitation, strengthening of muscles and regaining his balance.”
Though the initial signs of Dudley’s return to living a normal life are very positive, the challenge of learning to walk on a prosthetic foot is far from easy. What makes it worthwhile for Dudley and hopeful for Dr. Anderson, Mr. Graves, Ms. Laks and The Gentle Barn co-founder Jay Weiner, is the genuine support that has developed from around the world through social media, online donations and fans of The Gentle Barn. Dudley is a wonderful example of what can be achieved by people striving for a more compassionate world.
