Foal with birth defect given new lease on life by Bear Valley Rescue

Brought in underweight, sickly and deformed, a foalhas been given a new lease on life by a Sundre animal organization.

Named Timmy by staff at Bear Valley Rescue, the foal was born with a birth defect that caused him to stand on what would be the tip-toe of his front left hoof.

A surgery was done last week to correct the angle and allow Timmy to walk with a normal gait, sparing him from a trip to the slaughterhouse.

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"He could barely walk because of his deformity," said Kathy Bartley, president of Bear Valley Rescue. "He was so very sweet, we knew we had to give him a chance. Now for the first time in his life he can run. He's making up for lost time."

Bartley said staff think Timmy was underweight because he was taken away from his mother too soon, likely due to his birth defect.

Once the foal recovers, Bartley said he will be placed into either the adoption or fostering program at Bear Valley Rescue.