AR-News: (NY) Injured Cow Needs Home Immediately

[christine at eastbayanimaladvocates.org]

Injured Cow Needs Home Immediately


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
May 28, 2004

CONTACT:
Carol Smith
(315) 823-4876
csmith02 at twcny.rr.com


Little Falls, NY—Sweetie, a two year old cow, is looking for an immediate home where she can receive medical
care and be allowed to live out her life peacefully grazing and free of producing milk for profit.  She has
been struggling to live for the past seven weeks.  

Her anguish began when her front right foot became infected.  It was severely swollen and painful.  Walking
became very difficult and Sweetie could not venture very far from the barn.  One evening, while in the barn,
Sweetie hit her leg on the concrete and her skin ruptured.  Her infection had spread from her hoof up to her
knee.  The infection became so severe that at one point there was so little flesh on her leg you could see her
bone.  The pain was excruciating.  At this point, Sweetie could not even keep her head up.  She lay outside the
barn during the day with her head down giving the appearance that she was dead.  She ate very little, as the
pain was so severe.  She quickly lost over 200 pounds.

After two weeks, and a course of antibiotics, Sweetie was able to lift her head up and lay in the grass.  She
would spend a small portion of the day standing and eating grass.  Within another week, she was venturing out
into the pasture a bit trying to join her herd.  Then the next blow hit Sweetie.

Just as her flesh was beginning to grow back over the bone on her front right leg, her back right leg became
infected.  Her leg is swollen to almost three times its normal size and again, Sweetie is in excruciating pain.
 On May 24 the vet came to visit her and confirmed that indeed the situation is grave.  Sweetie does not have a
lot of reserve to fall back on.  She is skeletal and extremely weak from the bout with her front leg.  She is
receiving another course of antibiotics and the vet cleaned her hoof out. She receives a lot of extra grain to
encourage her to eat, and she remains in the barn when it rains and the pasture is muddy.  On sunny days she
still goes out to eat fresh grass and get fresh air.

Sweetie’s owner is remarkable in the fact that he has not put her down or sent her to a rendering plant as so
many farmers would have down by now.  He, and his family, have patiently cared for her the best they could
these many weeks.  However, this family is in business, and as much as they are hoping for her recovery, it is
becoming difficult for them.  

Sweetie is seeking a sanctuary where she can be nursed and allowed to live out the rest of her life peacefully
and lovingly.  She has such a strong will to live and has endured so much.  Will someone please find the love
and compassion and make this dream a reality for her.