Calf learns to walk on new prosthetic legs after losing back hooves to frostbite

This spring, a calf in Augusta County, Virginia, lost both his back hooves in a freeze. But one woman came to the rescue and now he has two new legs. After Hero the calf almost died from severe neglect in April, a group of people set their sights on helping him. The road to recovery has been long, but on Thursday he took a step in the right direction.



The five-and-a-half-month-old calf came to Kitty Martin, owner and founder of Selah Ranch All Animal Rescue, after losing both his back hooves to frostbite. "I've had people think I'm nuts - totally flipped my lid over this, but he had it so rough in the beginning. He needed a fair shot in life." said Martin. Along with his frozen hooves, Hero also endured widespread infections, open wounds, constant bandage changes and exposed bones. "He's been through a lot. It's been a whirlwind trying to get him here," said Martin.

For Martin, Thursday felt like watching her baby walk for the first time. "Christmas, anniversary, best days in your life, having kids, all rolled up in to one. The best things you could think of in your life all in one day," said Martin. What some may call a miracle happened after an outpouring of altruism. People started hearing Hero's story and falling in love with his gentle nature. Eventually, it touched Glenn Easton, president of Limb Care Orthotics and Prosthetics.


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"Making somebody walk is a real satisfaction. And trying to help something that can't help itself is also satisfying," said Easton. Easton travelled all the way from New Jersey and donated Hero's new prosthetic legs. "Every day Kitty's going to have to work with him. She's the real hero here," said Easton. The prosthetics company still has to make some adjustments for hero to walk more smoothly. "I just hope he's an inspiration to everybody like he's been to me. He's kept me focused, and fighting for him," said Martin.