The Elephant Wore Tennis Shoes

Shanthi is a 41-year-old Asian elephant at the National Zoo in Washington, DC. She suffers from arthritis. The pain affected her stance, which led to foot problems. To give her relief, the veterinary staff approached the problem from several directions. That includes an experimental procedure used on horses and a set of Tevas!  According to an article at the Washington Post, Teva’s director of Innovation went to China to supervise the making of Shanthi’s custom shoes, which were given to the zoo free of charge. She took a little while to get used to the shoes, but now obediently wears them, enabling veterinarians to keep her feet bathed in medications for extended periods. (via Metafilter)