A kitten born with his legs back to front has been given a new lease of life after pioneering surgery.
Corky was found by little boy dragging himself along a pavement in Fargo, North Dakota, and was brought into an animal shelter, where he was due to be put down.
But Gail Ventzke and Carol Stefonek, co-founders and directors of CATS Cradle Shelter, heard about the brave moggy and were intent on saving his life.
Corky, seven months, suffers from a congenital deformity called 'Bilateral Arthrogryposis', meaning his back legs were the wrong way round, and also crisscrossed like a corkscrew.
Corky's back legs were crossed, leaving him to drag himself along with his front paws
Staff decided to name the courageous kitty Corky in honour of his determination to drag himself around on his two front paws and corkscrew legs.
However, Dr Dan Burchill, of Castleton Veterinary Services, devised an operation to fix Corky's back legs and strengthen them with steel pins.
Dr Burchill consulted with another orthopaedic veterinarian in Montana. Neither had seen a case like Corky’s but had treated similar conditions in dogs.
During the five-hour operation, Dr Burchill also cut Corky's achilles tendons, so his toes would uncurl, allowing him to walk.
He's still in bandages for now, but Corky is on the road to recovery
Corky recovered slowly on heavy pain medication and remains in hospital, following the surgery on 5 April.
He underwent hydrotherapy, acupuncture, physical therapy and laser therapy several times a day to try to get his back legs working.
Now, Corky is still in brightly-coloured bandages, but he is on the mend, thanks to intensive physical therapy.
He already has 6,500 fans on a Facebook page in his honour.
Gail said: "Dr Burchill is our hero. He basically invented this surgery for Corky. He’s fallen for Corky, too. He comes in on his days off to personally change Corky’s bandages because he doesn’t want anyone else to touch him.
“I don’t think there’s anything I’ve done in the last four years of rescuing that’s been more worth it. This little guy is amazing.”
CATS Cradle Shelter is raising money for the cost of Corky's surgery and ongoing care.
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Source: Barcroft Media
A kitten born with his legs back to front has been given a new lease of life after pioneering surgery.
Corky was found by little boy dragging himself along a pavement in...
Source: Barcroft Media
A kitten born with his legs back to front has been given a new lease of life after pioneering surgery.
Corky was found by little boy dragging himself along a pavement in...
Does anyone know if anyone else perform this surgery? Cause I have 4 kittens that were born like him, they are super healthy and cute, but they have to crawl, they were born 1 month ago.
I want to give them the chance to know what is to climb and walk like their peers.
Please, if anyone knows anything, let me know. Im on twitter @aleximenez
aleximenez: Does anyone know if anyone else perform this surgery? Cause
寒い冬の屋外では、デジタル製品を触るのが大変でしょうか。特に、その寒い場合で手の痛みに苦しむ傾向がよくあります。その悩みがいつも私たちの生活に存在します。で、どうやってこの悩みを消えさせますか。ここで、方法が一つありますよ。この方法はthe north faceバッググローブを使うことです。http://www.thenorthface-japan.com/
the_north_face: 寒い冬の屋外では、デジタル製品を触るのが大変でしょうか。特に、その寒い場合で手の痛みに苦しむ傾向がよくあります。その悩みがいつも私たちの生活に存在します。で、どうやってこの悩みを消えさせますか。ここで、方法が一つありますよ。この方法はthe north faceバッググローブを使うことです。http://www.thenorthface-japan.com/
Has he drags himself around his eyes look directly at you lovingly hopping that you can help, there seems little sign of pain just discomfort and hope. His eyes change deep within them right at the back a little shimmer of the pain he has endured, but there at the front are the signs of love and understanding he knows live is going to be different. The excitement is almost uncontrollable, he still drags his legs, he knows it will not be forever he knows soon he will be able to run jump and clime.
But first he will endure the times of pain and manipulation because now he knows it’s the sign of love, the days of struggle grow shorter the days of loneliness have gone. Corky has been given something only the good side of the human race can give, a rarity indeed, for so long man has mistreated not just those animals that have moved into our home but all animals of this world.
So now all those that have made it possible for Corky to, not just have a life but to have a complete life be proud of what you have achieved. If ever you have any doubts just look into his eyes, all that work has been worth every minute of your effort and for that ‘I THANK YOU’
dsole1948: Has he drags himself around his eyes look directly at
well done to the one who found him .. not meny like him about
he should be given a prize or some thing.. well hope the kitten get better fast must off been a shme for the kitten to of been born like that.. wishing you well corky and thanks to the vet that gave him a new lease off life like i said good luck corky from a cat lover in manchester uk england
usalford: well done to the one who found him .. not
I love animals but have to say what a waste of money, how many animals could be saved for what this operation and after care will have cost. I know its controversial, but look at the reality of it first.
Fozwords: I love animals but have to say what a waste
oh my what a sad person you are they will still save all that come their way dont you realise that unlike you they are dedicated all life is worth it!!!
Nelly_Walker: oh my what a sad person you are they will
No 1 I am a human who pays into the NHS this cat however cruel it sounds should have been put down peacefully, if it breeds how many more kittens will it produce that are deformed, how much more will be wasted that could save animals lives that could be really meaningful. Its not about one life its about thousands.
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Barcroft Media | Posted: 24/04/2012 11:16 Updated: 24/04/2012 11:49