Molly, a 15-year-old Appaloosa pony, survived Hurricane Katrina when it hit Louisiana. She was rescued from her pasture near New Orleans after the storm and given a new home with Pony Paradise. However, Molly’s storm tragedy didn’t end there; a rescued pit bull that had shown no previous aggressive tendencies attacked her and several other ponies, severely damaging her right front leg. Skilled surgeons at Louisiana State University (LSU) saved Molly’s life by amputating the leg and giving her a specially designed prosthesis. Molly now serves as an ambassador to handicapped children.

Leslie Talley of Louisiana State University’s School of Veterinary Medicine and Allison Barca, DVM, (holding leadrope) stand with Molly on the levee behind Barca’s barn.More images of Molly and her prosthetic limb.

Molly’s Story

Before Hurricane Katrina, Molly lived in a pasture down the road from Alison Barca, DVM, a New Orleans veterinarian who told The Horse about many of her post-hurricane experiences (www.TheHorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=4878). Kaye Harris, owner of Pony Tales (a pony party service), director of a new pony retirement organization called Pony Paradise, and a client of Barca, also was a neighbor of Molly. She noticed the mare had not been evacuated after Katrina