If you've followed Thumbelina's journey, you know she's been a fighter from the very beginning.
When she arrived at the Sanctuary as a tiny baby goat, she had a severely broken leg. Our veterinary team worked tirelessly to save it, but despite everyone's best efforts, amputation became the kindest option.
Thankfully, Thumbelina never let that slow her down.
She's grown into a happy, confident goat who gets around beautifully on three legs—and spends just about every waking moment with her best friend, Stitch, who also happens to be missing a leg!
Thinking Ahead
Now that Thumbelina is fully grown, it's time for the next step in helping her stay comfortable for years to come.
Three-legged animals naturally place extra weight and stress on their remaining limbs. Over time, that can increase wear on their joints, especially the opposite back leg.
To help protect that leg as she ages, we partnered with the incredible team at Specialized Pet Solutions Animal O & P to create a custom support brace for her hock.
The goal? Give Thumbelina the extra stability she needs now to help prevent arthritis later.
A Familiar Purple Inspiration
This isn't our first experience with custom braces.
Stitch has been proudly sporting his signature purple brace for several years, and it's made such a difference in keeping him active and comfortable. Visitors absolutely love seeing it—and more importantly, Stitch loves the extra support it provides.
We're hopeful Thumbelina's brace will help her enjoy the same long-term comfort.
A Perfect Fit
This week was an exciting milestone.
The team created a custom cast of Thumbelina's leg, which will be used to build a brace made specifically for her body and movement.
Every animal is different, so each brace is carefully crafted to provide the best possible fit and support.
We can't wait to see the finished product—and even more excited to watch Thumbelina continue doing what she does best: running around with Stitch, living life to the fullest, and proving every day that a disability doesn't define what's possible.
