If you’ve always assumed that Rudolph was the most famous reindeer of all, prepare to be surprised. Wait until you learn about Rudie, a three-legged deer that has taken the internet by storm.

No one can tell how baby Rudie turned out to be in such a dire situation. Did his pack abandon him, or did he have a near-death encounter with a predator?

If Rudie had been caught in a trap, his rescuer could have been kind enough to set it free and watch it scamper into the wild. However, in this situation, the creature would likely die if left unaided.

The strangers did not know how long the young animal had been in that situation. Yes, they could tell it was a tender baby but had no way of knowing how long he had been in that condition.

At the animal clinic, the doctor had to stabilize the young deer. Afterward, he proceeded to assess his condition.

The rescuers of the young deer were disappointed that the animal would have to live with a missing limb, but it was a choice between living and keeping the damaged limb.

Right after the surgery, the question of the next move for the young deer arose. The creature needed a caregiver; it obviously didn’t have a family, as it was found abandoned.

Due to the medical condition of the still-recovering deer, the clinic could not put him up to be adopted by just anyone. Even if they did, there’s likely to be many reservations about caring for a special-needs animal.

An average reindeer was designed to live and thrive in the wild. It was probably a difficult transition for Rudie, having to live in a human abode instead of grazing in the wild.

Interestingly, Rudie made things easy for his caregiver. While it took some heavy sacrifice of effort and time, Rudie quickly got used to his new environment.

While nature created Rudie to subsist with four limbs, life’s hazards have relegated him to make do with three. Fortunately, the deer had the accident at a very tender age, so adapting and working around the disadvantage was easier.

The average animal naturally tends to prefer the company of its kind, but some factors may warrant unlikely friendships. For example, there have been documented reports of a duck befriending a dog and a cat bonding with chicks.

We could learn something from Rudie about being at peace with entities in one’s environment. Even though dogs can sometimes be territorial, Rudie fit snugly with the animal companions at his new home.

After having cared for Rudie for so long, the veterinarian decided to adopt the deer and make him an official member of her family. Of course, she didn’t want any issues with the authorities, so she did her due diligence.

Scientists have established, through research, that activities that trigger mindfulness are likely to reduce stressors in humans. For example, gardening, taking a walk in nature, nurturing, or just petting animals have been discovered to have such an effect.

Meanwhile, Rudie soon became an internet sensation after his Instagram page started getting attention from animal lovers worldwide. That’s the power of an inspirational story. With close to 20,000 followers, Rudie’s page is touching lives across the world.

Imagine having a pet that can intuitively tell when you’re happy, sad, or busy. It would be even better if such a creature could cheer you up during downtimes or curl up in the corner when it notices you have an important virtual meeting to attend.

Have you ever seen a pet that trips you up and gets you rolling on the floor with laughter with their funny acts and attitude? Well, that’s one of Rudie’s many attributes, as he can pull some surprisingly funny stunts when around his mom.

Each Christmas, Rudie’s mom would dress him up with antlers in the spirit of the season. After six years of care and nurturing, he would easily pass as a strong adult deer.

Rudie probably got influenced by the tender-heartedness of his adopted mom. It seems like Rudie’s adoptive mom was as lucky to have found him as Rudie was to have been taken in by her.