Blind mustang needs cataract surgery.

[tblue37]

http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2010/oct/17/owner-blind-horse-working-make-its-life-little-eas/

I saw this article this morning about a blind mustang that needs cataract surgery, and it touched me that the man who bought the horse decided to make its life better rather than returning it to the Bureau of Land Management to exchange for another horse, which he could have done, rather than paying even more money to try to help the horse.

<snip>

When Miller got Levi this past June from the U.S. Bureau of Land Management to train him for 90 days for a September mustang show in Lincoln, Neb., he didn’t know the horse could barely see. Neither did the Bureau of Land Management, he said.
However, no sooner did Miller get Levi home that he realized something was amiss. The horse wasn’t responding to hand or body movements, even those that normally would send a mustang into a gallop.
<snip>

Miller said he could have given Levi back to the Bureau of Land Management to exchange for another horse. But he knew Levi likely would have been put down.
<snip>

Miller, who recently brought the horse to the Mustang Fun Show at Heartland Ranch in Wakarusa, is attempting to raise funds on a Facebook page dedicated to “Levi Miller” to help offset approximately $7,500 for surgery to remove cataracts from both of the horse’s eyes <emphasis added>. He said one person at the auction drove the bidding up to $450 before Miller got Levi for $500. “That was too bad,” Miller said, “because I could have used the money to help pay for his cataract surgery.”

I was moved to donate a little bit, because I love animals so much, and I thought it was really cool that this guy who bought the horse didn’t want to return him because he would be put down, even though paying for the horse’s surgery would push the cost of the horse for him even higher.

NOTE: I mailed my check to the bank fund set up for the horse, because I never can navigate or find people on FB. I assumed people more comfortable with FB than I am would be able to find it. (An article I read said you're supposed to search "Levi Miller Tonganoxie.") But here is the address for the bank fund set up for the horse's surgery:

Union Bank & Trust Co.
309 Oak Street
P.O. Box 397
Bonner Springs, Ks. 66012-0397
Care of: Levi Miller Eye Surgery

[tblue37]

1. I am grateful that some of you are recommending this post, but

how about a "k" to go along with the "r" so other DUers can see it? I would love it if a lot of people who care about animals could see this sweet story. It made my day when I read it.

[tblue37]

2. Shameless self-k nt

[TuxedoKat]

3. I tried to find the facebook

for Levi Miller but couldn't -- do you have a link? TIA.

[tblue37]

4. Actually, I mailed a check to a bank fund for him.

I tend not to think in terms of Facebook--I find it very hard to navigate and locate people on FB. Here is the address to send a donation to the fund set up at the bank:

Union Bank & Trust Co.
309 Oak Street
P.O. Box 397
Bonner Springs, Ks. 66012-0397
Care of: Levi Miller Eye Surgery

[TuxedoKat]

16. Thanks for that

will send a donation.

[Autumn]

5. Thanks for the address. I will send a donation. I have a

Mustang from the BLM, he is my joy. K/R

[tblue37]

8. How wonderful of you to adopt a mustang. I am so glad that

horse lovers buy these beautiful creatures to keep them from being killed!

[LWolf]

6. Here's a video:

http://wibw.videogenesis.net/watch?v=12069&ref=search

[tblue37]

9. Oh, thank you so much! I had not even seen the video.

I think I am in love. What a fine, decent man he must be. I am so glad he won't consider giving up Levi now. The original intent, before he learned that Levi is blind, was for him to train the horse so he could be adopted by someone else, but now he says he is keeping him.

[LWolf]

14. I've seen the mustang competition and auction.

I think it's a good way to bring attention to the mustangs. I was raised by a little mustang; I spent more time wandering the hills alone with her than I did anything else growing up. While I've had horses all of my life, I've yet to find a horse that is as good a partner as that little mustang.

I've also ridden a blind horse; he was fine inside a groomed arena where there were no obstacles to stumble over, but we never took him outside of that arena for riding.

I hope Levi gets the care he needs.

[tuckessee]

7. Kick for the horse!

And for the wonderful soul who bought him.

[tblue37]

10. Oh, and the reason I mentioned FB at first rather than the bank address was that I

figured people were more likely to do an online donation, since it's so convenient. But obviously if the FB page for the horse is not able to be located, that is not covnenient at all! I wish someone who knows him would notify the man that he needs to get that page out there and visible for everyone who wants to help.

[TuxedoKat]

13. Yes

I'm sure he would have the money much more quickly if that happened or a Paypal account would be helpful too. The only Levi Miller I found on FB was not a horse.

[lunatica]

11. I had cataract surgery and it's great!

The moment you open your eyes after surgery you can see and there's very little pain. About a one on a scale of ten.

If the mustang is that blind it will probably get spooked quite a bit at first since it's used to seeing through a thick fog. I love this story.

[tblue37]

12. My mom also had cataract surgery for cataracts she developed because

of diabetes. I hope it does turn out that this surgery will restore the horse's vision, though there is a chance he has other issues that would mean the surgery won't work. But even getting the tests to see whether the surgery will work is going to cost plenty, and then of course the surgery itself, if it is warranted, will cost.

This man still plans to keep the horse, no matter what. He seems totally willing to bear whatever the cost is and to keep the horse whether it remains blind or is cured by the surgery

I do hope the poor thing isn't too frightened when he gets his vision back. If he wasn't blind for too long, he might adjust just fine.

[tblue37]

15. Thanks, everyone, for the recs & kicks to keep this story visible. nt