Cookie's Story
Cookie was found at age 3 years, loose on 52 acres, virtually abandoned for his whole life.
He arrived at Willow Branch a very worried little fellow. At Willow Branch, veterinary assessment found Cookie to have horrendously overgrown hooves and to be to be cryptorchid (undescended testicles). This condition requires surgery; undescended testicles are prone to complications such as torsion, and surgical removal is the only way to geld the animal. Gelding helps prevent aggressive behavior common to stallions. Temperament and behavior are critical to successful adoption.
The farrier’s work to correct poor Cookie’s feet stretched over months, but eventually he shaped them into normal, balanced, healthy hooves. The surgery involved blood tests, imaging, anesthesia, actual surgery, and recovery. The procedure is complex and fraught with risk of inadvertent damage, but Cookie’s operation was successful and his recovery was complete.
Cookie surprised everyone by responding to all this care and aftercare with what certainly looked like gratitude and joy. He took to training like a pro, which also helped. His fundamentally sweet personality contributed to the ultimate outcome, which was placement with a loving family in a forever home.
He is loved and loving in return.
