Aubre Andrus - Comeback Kids: Three Animals Who Overcame the Impossible

What do a newborn zebu, a Munchkin cat, and a bulldog puppy have in common? Theyre three animals who overcame the impossible!

Angel the calf couldnt even stand weeks after she was born on a miniature zebu farm. Luckily, she found a new home at Shawn and Jereds sanctuary filled with misfit animals. Her recovery didnt go as planned, but it ended up being even better than her new owners could have imagined. Now Angel gets around just finein her own special way. As an indoor pet cow, shes definitely unique!

Potato, an especially tiny Munchkin cat, was born with a body so small that it caused a lot of health issues. The shelter that rescued her was afraid shed never get adopted. But they never could have guessed that shed become a social media star and thousands of people would fall in love with her! After a few close calls and a serious surgery, her recovery amazed everyoneespecially her new owner, Holly.

Bueller, a bulldog puppy, was given to a shelter because his weak legs made it impossible for him to walk. His foster family helped heal him faster than anyone could have predictedand they found him the perfect forever home after a difficult search. It turned out that Bueller came into Lindsey and Alexs home at just the right time, and he went on to heal the hearts of his new owners in a big way.

Angel, Potato, and Buellers comebacks took a lot of time, love, and hard work. It wasnt easy, and it wasnt always fun. But it was worth it in the end. Young or old, big or small, two legs or fourthese three inspiring true stories show that with a little love and kindness, we can get through even the biggest challenges.

Shawn opened the door of the truck as they pulled up to the farm. She jumped out before it had even stopped moving. Her bright blonde hair swung in a high ponytail as she jogged toward the green fenced-in pasture just ahead. Her husband, Jered, parked the truck, then followed closely behind her. They had both been on farms plenty of times before, but this wasnt your everyday farmit was a farm for zebus, a type of small cattle from Asia.

A little zebu calf was sitting in the grass near the fence. Shawn immediately bent down to pet her. She almost didnt even notice the farmer and his wife standing nearby. Tears were already streaming down Shawns face. She couldnt wait to bring this calf home.

Shes the size of a newborn puppy, Shawn said in awe as she lovingly hugged her newest rescue for the first time. She had never seen a zebu up close. She couldnt believe how cute this calf was. She looked like a little fawn, but instead of being brown like a baby deer, she was black and white spotted. Two tiny horns sprouted from the top of her head. A few teeth poked out of the bottom of her adorable smile. Her ears were perked up, and she was wearing a bandanna around her neck. At first glance, it seemed like she was a healthy little calf just sitting in the grass. But the reality was that her back legs were tucked permanently underneath her body. They were twiglike and wouldnt straighten out like her front legs. The farmer, Bob, told Shawn and Jered how happy and sweet this little calf was, even though she couldnt stand up. Thats why they named her Angel.

Hi, Angel, Shawn said as she pet her gently.

Tracey was watching from a window in her parents farmhouse. Her mom and dad stood in the front yard near the pasture, with Angel resting just in front of them. Shawn and Jered were sitting in the grass petting her. So this was the couple that Tracey had heard so much about. Tracey had assumed the people who ran the animal rescue would be older, like her parents. But Shawn and Jered looked so young! She had been told that Iowa Farm Sanctuary could change the lives of animals in need. Thats exactly why she had called them to her parents farm. This calf needed a miracle.

Tracey felt so relieved watching the couple interact with Angel as she walked out the front door to greet them. She could already tell that Jered and Shawn would give this calf the extra care and attention she needed. Just days before, Tracey had thought there was no hope for her. Her dad, Bob, raised miniature zebus and other animals on this farm. In all his years of raising zebus, he had never seen one like Angel. When her back legs didnt begin to straighten on their own after she was born, he took her to the vet. The veterinarian thought that her leg muscles just needed to be massaged and straightened every day. But that didnt work.

The vet then realized that the calfs condition was more serious: Angel was born with her two back kneecaps in the wrong places, so shed never be able to stand. It was like her back legs were locked in a bent position. The veterinarian recommended putting Angel to sleep, but Tracey asked her dad to let her find someone who could raise Angel and give her the extra care she needed. Bob loved the calf, and he wholeheartedly agreed that she deserved to find a new home.

Tracey had been thrilled when she found a forever home for Angel at a sanctuary in Florida. Florida had the perfect kind of weather for zebusnice and warm. The new family planned to drive from Florida to Traceys parents farm in Illinois to pick up Angel. But then the call came in:

Im sorry, we cant. We just dont have room for her.

Tracey was shocked. The new owners had backed out at the last minute. Where would this little zebu live now? Bob had done everything he could to help Angel in the two months since she had been born, including doing stretching exercises with her four times a day. He even carried her inside to feed her a bottle whenever she was hungry, since she couldnt stand up to nurse from her mother. But Angel was growing and Bob was getting older. He wouldnt be able to lift this little calf forever. If she couldnt stand, he couldnt take care of her.

Tracey had had to start the search for a new home againand fast. Thankfully, she found Shawn and Jered at Iowa Farm Sanctuary, and they had answered her call for help immediately. And now they were here to take Angel to her new home.

Tracey introduced herself to the couple. Jered was bearded with tattooed arms and his long dark blond hair was tied back in a low bun. Up close, she could now see that Shawn had a cow tattoo on her leg. Shawn was watching the other zebus grazing far away, inside the pasture. But one of the zebus had broken away from the pack. The lone zebu started walking toward them. She reached the fence, then started bellowing loudly as Shawn picked up Angel gently.