Amputee goat finds a friend in amputee animal activist

They are both amputees: She lost part of her right leg to bone cancer at the age of 10, and he lost part of his left leg four months ago because of an injury he most likely suffered at a Brooklyn slaughterhouse.

Her name is Jenny Brown, and she is a 36-year-old television producer-turned-animal rights activist. His name is Albie, and he is a goat of unknown age and undetermined breed.

They met last August, after Albie was plucked from Prospect Park and brought to the animal sanctuary Brown has owned since 2004. He was sickly and malnourished at the time. Brown believes Albie had been hogtied before he broke free.



Brown said that she tried to save Albie's leg, treating it with ointments and homeopathic remedies. But the wound would not heal. In December, Albie's leg was amputated just above the knee.

Albie is now awaiting a prosthesis, a very rare indulgence for a farm animal like him. And the same technician who fitted Brown with a new artificial leg is also designing Albie's.

"I've been an amputee for most of my life, but I can run a farm, I can wrestle animals, I can carry bales of hay, thanks to modern prosthetics," Brown said. "I thought it would be only fair to give Albie the same chance to live a normal life."