Mar 10, 2009 10:00 pm US/Mountain
Foal Gets Help; Community Comes Together
ESTES PARK, Colo (CBS4) ―
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CBS4's Suzanne McCarroll says "Hello" to Chippewa, a Quarter horse foal being nursed back to health in Estes Park.
CBS
An Estes Park veterinarian is nursing a baby Quarter horse back to full strength, and the Estes Park community is coming together to help.
Chippewa was born in February in ten degree weather. His mother was part of a large herd. The herd's owner had no idea the horse was pregnant and Chippewa didn't get the attention he needed. He nearly died until the town vet, who usually treats cats and dogs, took him in and began around the clock care.
"I thought he was dying as I was putting the catheter in him. He was comatose," said veterinarian, Dr. Marie Richardson.
Richardson knew little about treating horses, but she's provided ongoing care for the month-old foal that includes feedings every four hours even through the night.
"He was totally emaciated." Richardson added
Meanwhile, the recovery of this little Quarter horse has captured the hearts of the entire community. "Chip" as they call him is the hot topic of conversation all over town.
"Everybody in town, at the grocery store, 'Did you hear about Chippewa? How's he doing this week?'" said Bonnie McKain, an Estes Park resident and one of Chip's biggest fans.
The town's paparazzi captured Chip's every milestone toward recovery, including his first wobbly steps. There have been front page headlines, and full page cover stories on the foal's progress.
"It's been our top number one story for the past month," said Kris Hazelton, Estes Park News
Richardson is paying out-of-pocket for the I.V.'s, plasma, leg bandages, wound care, and special goat's milk that are making Chippewa strong. Care for the foal has cost thousands of dollars which is why McKain wanted to pay it forward. She asked CBS4 to give Richardson $1,000 toward the medical bills.
"He's basically like a newborn baby" Richardson told CBS4.
Chip is still weak, though he can now stand and walk around the small pen at the vet clinic. But this little quarter horse has the entire town of Estes Park rooting for him.
If you would like to help Chippewa, you can send donations to Animal Hospital of the Rockies, P.O. Box 2897, Estes Park, CO 80517.
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