Mighty Midget

By Mara Pattison-Sowden
A MINIATURE pony from Hoddles Creek who had a life-threatening condition has been saved with the help and generosity of animal-loving strangers.
The plight of one-year-old Midget was broadcast on national radio and put in print recently.
Midget was born with a cleft palate, which means she had trouble digesting her food – it either entered the lungs or came out through her nose.
The pony’s mother was saved from the Black Saturday bushfires and adopted out. But people didn’t realise she was with foal.
Owner Kathy Munslow rescued Midget two months ago, knowing about the condition, but not knowing how bad it was.
“I didn’t think the surgery was at the critical stage, but the vet said it was a time-bomb waiting to go off,” Ms Munslow said. “It was thousands and thousands of dollars, but the vet knocked so much off the price.”
Ms Munslow, who survives on a pension, still could not afford the operation, which is why she turned to the public for help.
She said people from as far away as the Gold Coast and Tasmania called to donate money for the lifesaving procedure.
The operation at a Narre Warren veterinary clinic on 27 May was a success. The only visible part of the surgery is a 20cm row of stitches on the pony’s throat.
Ms Munslow is in the process of setting up a non-profit charity and Midget’s plight has brought together more people who want to help animals with special needs.
“There are not many animals here, but we want to bring more in,” Ms Munslow said. “Not many” refers to the two alpacas who have to be bottle-fed five times a day, two horses, four other miniature ponies and four dogs who came from traumatised backgrounds.
Ms Munslow thinks the rescue centre will head towards long-term care for animals and saving racehorses.
“There’s thousands of horses a year put down because they don’t make it as racehorses,” she said.
Those interested in helping with the rescue centre can contact Kathy on 5967 4279.