Animal rescue stories are some of our very favorite things to share with our readers. The amazing selflessness of the people involved, and the miraculous joy of seeing an animal get a whole new chance at life is something that will never get old for us.
We've seen a Goldendoodle rescued from a frigid, icy river, watched a panda rescued from a tree, and even witnessed a horse rescued from a well. They're all amazing stories, but I still hope to see more and more every time I open my web browser.
If you're the same way, today you're in luck. Not only do we have a heartwarming rescue story out of Carroll County, IN, from the Associated Press, but it's also one of the most unconventional rescues I've ever seen.
As you'll see in the video below, when third-generation farmer Dane Gangwer found a newborn calf separated from his herd, all alone in a snowbank on his farm, he sprung into action and did something miraculous that likely saved the little guy's life. He took Leroy the calf into the hot tub with him for an hourlong bath.
Gangwer says that one of his heifers decided to go off by herself to have her baby because many cows like to be alone for the process. That's when he found the calf laying in a large pile of snow.
According to the Associated Press' video, the farmer put the calf on his ATV and drove back to his house where he popped open the hot tub as quickly as possible.
"I jumped in fully dressed," he says in the video, "and held Leroy up so he didn't drown, and him and I had a nice bath for an hour."
Thanks to Gangwer's quick thinking, Leroy is now doing just fine, but I don't think he'll be spending any more time lounging in the hot tub.
"Leroy is officially done hot tubbing," Gangwer says with a laugh. "Some sunbathing is definitely in his future this summer out in the grass. But definitely [Leroy's] hot tub days are done."
What a dedicated farmer and what a beautiful, and very lucky, calf.
Please SHARE this amazing rescue with all your friends and family!
