HELP ARGYLE GET BACK ON HIS FEET!

Over the holidays, you helped us replenish our emergency medical fund. Well, we didn’t expect we would use it up before the end of January!

But when our sweet Jersey steer, Argyle, stopped bearing weight on his back leg, we knew it was an emergency.

Two cows, one brown and one black, standing outdoors with autumn trees in the background.
A brown cow lying on green grass in a field with trees in the background, illuminated by sunlight.

A few days ago the weather got really, really cold, and we noticed Argyle’s long legs seemed stiff and sore. Knowing that our tall boy is 9 years old, and that arthritis gets worse in cold, we immediately contacted our vet who put him on some pain meds, and we tried to keep him warm so he would be less sore. But yesterday, Argyle stopped bearing weight on his back leg. We immediately called the vet out for an emergency appointment. She took X-rays and determined that Argyle’s leg, ankle, and toes are all riddled with severe arthritis.

A laptop showing an X-ray image of a hoof on the screen, placed on wood shavings in a barn or stable. The laptop is next to a yellow container.

The vet adjusted Argyle’s arthritis meds, and added weekly injections that will cost about $105 each to his treatment plan, to help with inflammation and mobility. After four weeks, he will start to receive $116 monthly injections that will hopefully to maintain his quality of life for many years to come.

It will be a tough 2-4 weeks until Argyle starts to feel better, so we are making sure he is getting up and repositioning every few hours and keeping him as comfortable as possible.

The cost of the X-rays and the emergency vet made a massive dent in our newly replenished medical fund…and now we need to pay the costs of his ongoing care. Can you help us give our sweet and snuggly boy the life he deserves?

Graphic showing a fundraising goal, with a red progress bar indicating 100% completion at $3,530 of a $3,500 goal, with extra financial details in red and white text.
3% Cover the Fee

Goal: $3,500 Raised: $3,530

Thank you for helping us care for these amazing souls at all stages of life. We couldn’t fulfill our promises to them without your help.

Close-up of a steer's legs and hooves inside a wooden barn stall with wood shavings on the ground.

Cattle that have been bred to be used for their milk, like Jerseys and Holsteins, have been selectively bred over generations to be tall, in order to accommodate large udders. The males, who generally aren’t allowed to live longer than a few months, grow even taller than the females when they are able to grow up and live full lives. This height makes arthritis a significant and crippling problem when these boys are allowed to live out their natural lives. At 9 years old, Argyle is now paying the price for human greed in a painful and heartbreaking way.

To donate by check

Checks can be made out to Sweet Farm Foundation, 210 Hall Rd., Himrod, NY 14842