Many animals are just as vulnerable to the risks of cold weather as humans are. Exposure to freezing temperatures can lead to severe conditions like hypothermia and frostbite, which pose a significant threat to their health and survival. That’s why it’s always heartwarming when people go the extra mile to protect animals from the dangers of the cold.
A prime example of this kind of compassion comes from a farmer in Rossville, Indiana, who devised a creative and surprising solution to save the life of a freezing newborn calf. Dean Gangwer, the farmer in question, raises cattle on his farm, and in 2015, he found himself in a situation that required quick thinking and ingenuity.
One chilly morning, Dean discovered an unexpected addition to his property. Unbeknownst to him, one of his cows had given birth overnight. Unfortunately, the birth took place on top of a mound of snow, leaving the newborn calf exposed to the freezing cold. By the time Dean found the calf, it was in a critical state, struggling to breathe and showing signs of severe cold exposure.
Recognizing the seriousness of the situation, Dean knew he had to act fast to save the calf’s life. Without hesitation, he brought the freezing calf into his house, desperate to find a way to warm it up. Drawing on his experience with cattle, Dean determined that the calf needed immediate warmth to raise its body temperature. That’s when he came up with an unconventional idea that ultimately proved to be the perfect solution.
Dean had a hot tub in his home, and it struck him that this might be just what the calf needed—a warm bath to help it recover from the cold. As unconventional as it might sound, Dean decided to give it a try. He filled the hot tub with warm water, got in fully clothed, and carefully held the calf to keep it from drowning.
To his relief, the strategy worked brilliantly. The warm water began to revive the calf, and after about an hour in the hot tub, both Dean and the calf were feeling much better. “Leroy and I had a wonderful bath for an hour after I got in fully clothed and held him up to prevent him from drowning,” Dean told WRTV. “We both came out warm, and I think the end story’s going to be great for him.”
After the hot tub session, Dean wrapped the calf, whom he named Leroy, in warm blankets to further stabilize its body temperature. Thanks to Dean’s quick thinking and willingness to share his hot tub, Leroy soon recovered from his ordeal. Once Leroy’s body temperature stabilized, he was ready to rejoin the herd, fully recovered and safe.
While Dean’s decision to share his hot tub with a calf was an act of compassion that helped save Leroy’s life, he was quick to clarify that this was a one-time event. “Leroy has concluded his hot-tubbing,” he said. “His days in the hot tub are definitely over, but he may still sunbathe occasionally in the grass in the future.”
This story is a wonderful example of how far some people will go to protect the animals in their care. Dean’s quick thinking and resourcefulness not only saved a life but also showed that sometimes, the most unusual solutions can be the most effective.
