LUIGI aka HERCULES
Let’s see where to begin . . . Luigi came to us a bit unkempt but not unloved. The lady who had him was ingenious in her ability to rig a make shift leg for him. He was born with only three legs; the fourth was only ¼ of the size it ought to be. She had rigged a pvc plastic pipe with a hinged coupler which she lined with foam so as not to give him sores and put a rubber chair grip at the end of the pvc white piping so Luigi would not slip.
Luigi when he first came to the rescue in 2005 at 7 months old.
She heard of Central New England Equine Rescue and asked if we could take him in as she could no longer give him the time he needed nor did she have the money that would be required to have a prosthetic made for him. One look at him from Betsy Johnson, the president of the rescue, and he was taken in that same day. The makeshift leg that had worked thus far would not work forever as when he walked his spine was made to work too hard and that would lead to misalignment. Watching him try to run and play was very hard as he could never keep up and would tire very quickly.
The rescue began the search for a company that would help the rescue fit and create a prosthetic leg for Luigi at a fee the rescue’s meager budget could afford; it would not be easy. After numerous phone calls, and many web searches we received a call from a gentleman named Ron Graves, who owned and operated a family business that created prosthetics, he told us that a prosthetic would run approximately $1600 and given the miniature donkeys age, 7 months, it would take more than one fitting and device as he grew larger. We asked if there could be consideration for a discounted fee as we were a small non profit horse rescue. Ron said he would get back to us.
Getting his new chance at a good healthy life..fitting for prosthetic leg.
Not being disheartened we kept on. Another call from Ron and his wife Linda asked what we did with the equines we rehabilitated? Why, we find loving homes for them and match them to the right families or friend. We exchanged websites, checked on each other’s references and another phone call from Linda and Ron came in with the question: Would we consider letting the Graves adopt him? The Central New England Equine board of directors had to meet to make this decision as we do not let our equines go where we cannot follow up on their care with on site inspections and the Graves live in Florida. The vote was unanimous that this family could provide everything that Luigi needed and that two CNEER friends lived in Florida and could check if need be. Ron and Linda also agreed to keep us updated with pictures and emails. The agreement was made and Luigi’s adoption papers were signed which started his journey to Florida. The first leg of the trip would be by van to NYC from Barre, Massachusetts by Tom Berry who volunteered his van to help. Luigi would be picked up in a specially padded horse trailer for his journey to Florida from NYC.
Luigi and his new love and friend, Spring the mule. 2008
The trip was flawless and Luigi arrived unscathed to his new home. Ron and Linda have proven to be the absolute best match in the world for this miniature Sicilian donkey named Luigi. He has flowered into a most handsome boy. He is given the best life has to offer and is fitted for a prosthetic leg each time he needs one. He is running and playing with the best of them and has fallen in love with their mule, Spring! They were allowed together for the first time in the same corral this year and Spring is as gentle as can be with Luigi. They romp the fields together and make a most unlikely pair.
This is just one of the many stories that this equine rescue has to share! The equines here fill every volunteer with happiness, joy, sadness, compassion and understanding. These equines make us realize each and every day what is important in life; each equine that we meet has their own story to tell if we listen and it isn’t “stuff” that brings us lasting happiness it is the care and love that we give to one another each day every day all year through.
When Luigi came to us his name was Hercules, as he had Herculean feats to overcome and with the help of kind and compassionate friends he did just that!
God Bless
