Just like humans, animals can suffer from the dangers of cold weather. Many species are vulnerable to conditions such as hypothermia and frostbite, which can quickly become life-threatening. When people take extraordinary measures to protect animals in these harsh conditions, it’s always heartwarming and inspiring. Such was the case with one Indiana farmer who found himself in a life-or-death situation with a newborn calf and came up with an inventive and unusual solution to save its life.

Dean Gangwer, a cattle farmer from Rossville, Indiana, was no stranger to the challenges of raising livestock. However, one freezing morning in 2015 presented him with a surprise he wasn’t prepared for. Without realizing it, one of his cows had given birth overnight, and the newborn calf was left exposed to the bitter cold, lying on a snowdrift. The freezing temperatures were rapidly taking a toll on the young animal, putting its life at serious risk.

When Dean discovered the calf early that morning, he noticed it was breathing heavily and struggling to stay warm. It was clear to him that time was of the essence. The newborn calf’s condition was deteriorating quickly, and Dean knew he had to act fast if he wanted to save it. Racing against the clock, he scooped up the calf and rushed it to his house, determined to find a way to warm the animal up and stabilize its body temperature.

As a seasoned cattle farmer, Dean was well aware that warming the calf was essential to its survival, but the freezing cold had already set in. He needed a way to raise the calf’s body temperature quickly and effectively. That’s when Dean had an unusual idea—he could use his hot tub! It may have seemed like a far-fetched solution, but desperate times call for creative measures, and Dean wasn’t about to let the calf succumb to the cold.

The idea of putting a calf in a hot tub might sound strange, but Dean knew it could work. He quickly got into the hot tub, fully clothed, and gently placed the calf, whom he later named Leroy, into the warm water. Holding Leroy securely to prevent him from drowning, Dean spent the next hour in the tub with the calf, allowing the warm water to gradually raise its body temperature.

The unusual method paid off. As the calf soaked in the hot water, its breathing began to slow, and its body temperature started to normalize. Dean could see that Leroy was beginning to recover from the effects of the cold. Speaking to local news station WRTV, Dean recalled, “I got in fully clothed, held Leroy up to keep him from drowning, and we had a great hour-long bath. I think the ending is going to be fantastic for him, and we both came out warm.”

After the hour-long hot tub session, Dean carefully wrapped Leroy in warm blankets to ensure the calf stayed cozy and didn’t lose the heat it had gained. He kept a close eye on Leroy as the calf continued to recover, and before long, the young animal’s body temperature had fully stabilized. Once Leroy was warm and comfortable, Dean knew the calf was strong enough to be reunited with the herd.

It wasn’t long before Leroy was back with the other cows, fully recovered from his ordeal. The quick-thinking actions of Dean, coupled with his creative use of a hot tub, had saved the calf’s life. Leroy’s brush with death may have been a close call, but thanks to Dean’s ingenuity and compassion, the calf made a full recovery and was ready to grow up alongside his herd.

Reflecting on the experience, Dean acknowledged that while his hot tub solution had been a success, it wasn’t something he planned to make a habit of. “Leroy’s hot-tubbing is over,” he joked. “It’s clear that his days in the hot tub are over, but he might still occasionally sunbathe in the grass going forward.” Leroy’s adventure in the hot tub may have been a one-time event, but it’s a testament to the farmer’s resourcefulness and dedication to the well-being of his animals.

In a world where livestock face numerous challenges, particularly in harsh weather, stories like Dean’s remind us of the lengths to which people will go to protect and care for the animals under their watch. Dean’s story of rescuing a freezing calf with a hot tub may seem unconventional, but it’s a powerful example of quick thinking and compassion in action. Leroy’s survival is a reminder that sometimes, the most unexpected solutions can have the best outcomes.

As we navigate cold winters and harsh conditions, both for humans and animals, Dean Gangwer’s story stands out as a heartwarming tale of creativity, resilience, and the bond between a farmer and his cattle.