Featured Story: Clara The Mini Zebu That Could

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Stetson isn’t just a goat—he’s family. And right now, he’s fighting for his life.

Stetson was born intersex, with a urinary system that didn’t function properly. The farmer who owned him had planned to euthanize him, but his two daughters pleaded for a second chance. That’s how Stetson came to live at the sanctuary.

At just two days old, he underwent a minor operation to drain an external sac around his vulva. To prevent infection, he was moved indoors—and that’s where he became potty trained and developed his love for sleeping in a recliner. Several months later, he had a major surgery to reconstruct his urinary tract and remove both male and female sex organs. Complications led to a post-op infection, sepsis, and a critical ICU stay. But Stetson pulled through.

Years later, he was accidentally run over while sunbathing under a truck tire. He survived with minor injuries but needed months of pain management. Then came another emergency—a swallowed rope dog toy led to major surgery and months of painful abscesses. Recently, he was diagnosed with a blood parasite and treated twice with little improvement. A return visit to OSU revealed it wasn’t a parasite—it was something worse.

After a CT scan, we learned Stetson has a blockage in his rumen, causing significant weight loss and liver failure. The initial ultrasound missed it, likely due to his enlarged liver. By fate, the same vet who once saved his life insisted on the CT, despite poor lab results—and now we know what we’re up against.

He needs surgery—fast. But high-dose steroids from the presumed lupus diagnosis complicate things. The team will taper his dose by half and proceed with surgery this Wednesday. He’ll be admitted Tuesday for pre-op fluids and stabilization.

This surgery is risky—but without it, he won’t survive more than a few weeks. He’s dropped from 71 to 66 pounds in just two weeks. But he’s still alert, interactive, and full of fight. The team believes he deserves this chance.We do too. But we need your help.

As a nonprofit, we rely on donations to make life-saving care possible. Please consider donating or sharing. Stetson’s story isn’t over yet—with your help, he can beat the odds again.

Oregon Farm Sanctuary is a 501(c)(3). EIN: 99-3755388. Thank you for standing with us.