Monday, May 24, 2010

Two Reasons Why

The woman and I are asked quite often how Sheila, who runs the PrimRose Donkey Sanctuary, keeps going day after day. She has seen every possible negative aspect of human nature at work in the guise of the neglected and abused donkeys who make their way to her farm. Still she smiles, never raises her voice and one by one, tries to help the sanctuary residents and educate humans on how to properly care for donkeys in general.

I know some of you have heard me speak of Tabi (Tabolinski), the mammoth donkey who luckily found himself in Sheila's care. He had worked tirelessly pulling logs from the forest, without benefit of footcare for ages. When he was sold, his new owner decided to "fix" his feet all in one go, and the bony structure inside dropped down to his soles, leaving him in agony. Sheila and her vet and farrier and the volunteers nursed him back to health and he was looking shiny and standing comfortably, soaking up the sun and finally leading a wonderful life. One day last week Sheila went out to prepare donkey breakfasts and Tabi had died in the night. She is devastated. We have no details as yet but I know there are many of us, human and donkey, who know how much Sheila's heart is aching right now. I hope she remembers that even though his life was short - he was only in his mid-teens - she gave a great soul the chance to know what loving care is all about. He will be greatly missed.

On a happier note, Theodore, the "dumpster donkey" is thriving in his new home. After having been nearly beaten to death with a shovel by a lunatic who tied him to a dumpster and left him there to die, Sheila was called and he was taken to the sanctuary. To say he had trust issues is a massive understatement. Sheila felt his nightmarish experiences would make him a liftetime resident. One day a teenage human and her mother went to visit the sanctuary. Theodore marched up to the girl and declared she was "the one".

He went to live at her home and from being virturally untouchable, he is now calmly having his feet done by the foot man, being brushed, haltered and led everywhere. Last winter, he and his group of horses came into the barn during a bad storm. Theodore and the humans realized at the same time that one horse was missing. Back out went Theodore, up a steep hill, in the blinding snow, where he moved in close to the horse and led him back down the hill with the horse's muzzle pressed into his furry back. His day wasn't done yet. The teenage human's father found a chicken out in the roadway in the same blizzard and brought it home, fearing it wouldn't last the night. The chicken was put into the warm barn. In the morning the chicken was found fully recovered, nestled on Theodore's warm back. Theodore does not take his new home for granted. He knows how truly terrible humans can be but has the judgement to recognize the good ones when he meets them. That farm is in good hooves with Theodore in charge.

Those are just two of the many reasons we want to make the "Big Day" a very big success. Thank you to all who are working so hard to help my donkey friends and thank you to Sheila for doing, day in and day out, what most of us cannot even imagine. She's a woman on a mission and I gladly lend my name to anything that will help her to keep PrimRose up and running.

16 comments:

BumbleVee said...

It's hard to type with tears in my eyes and my throat aching....it hurts to read of such cruelty to animals...and then of such love ..........but, damn it...I just want to say how wonderful Sheila is. And...even though I don't know her personally...I feel like I do....and wish I did for sure.

I'll never understand the cruelty of people ... and would dearly love to throttle every one I find that mistreats animals.... on the other hand, when I hear of kind and loving people...it makes me cry ...tears of joy... I love you Sheila and Sheaffer's Mom too...you are good people....

hugs, Vee

now, I'm going outside to dig in my dirt and have my little cry...

Finn the Wonder Pony said...

My woman has tears in her eyes... Such a sad happening on the eve of such a big event! Our sympathies to Sheila.

Today I was remembering the picture my woman took of my friend CLW with that silly hat on her head. I almost dropped the cart I was laughing so hard.. I miss the big mare, but her daughter Pnut has come to live with me and boss me around. She is terrific; we sometimes run together just for fun. Not as crabby as the old girl either, but that was just because she was old and sick.

I applaud your noble endeavors to help Sheila help those donkeys. I think I would like a donkey, but the woman says she has enough free-loaders around here. Whatever could she mean? I cart her big -ummm- personality all over the place!

billie said...

Sending all our best thoughts and condolences to Sheila on this loss. As everyone else, I am tearful too, but so glad that Tabi had time at Primrose so he could leave knowing what love and respect and care are all about.

And I am so excited to hear about Theodore! What a wonderful story. He knew when the right human came along! That is how it should be.

Buddy said...

Hay Sheaffer - we understand Sheila's loss as we lost one of our kitties two weeks ago today. Mom still cries - even with the new dog.

Sheila rocks! My mom is in love with Theodore - says what a wonderful equine!

ponymaid said...

BumbleVee, I know, I know. The woman had trouble writing this but wanted to make a small tribute to Tabi and Sheila. Those six acres of santuary hold a lot of miracles and redress a lot of evil done to many donkeys. You would love Sheila if you met her - in her eyes no donkey is a lost cause and the air of happiness and healing at the sanctuary is a great testament to her unfailing optimism and dogged determination. She is missing Tabi so much - they had a bond that was something to see. Thank you for your kindness and your gift bears for the silent auction. Bit by bit, we are changing things.

ponymaid said...

Finn, my fine pony friend - I hope you had a good winter in what passed for sun this year. We were talking about Cindy and Tabi and saying how hard goodbyes can be. Those larger than life personalties leave a severe ache in the heart when they go. We will toast a glass of lemon squash to them at the party and say a silent thanks for stories that end like Theodore's.

ponymaid said...

Billie, Tabi had something magical about him that was hard to define. You can tell he was a large and impressive donkey physically and yet his heart was the kindest you could meet. Like Theodore, he had every reason to be angry and suspicious of the human race, and he wasn't. He adored Sheila and she adored him right back. We heard this evening that he slipped away very peacefully in his sleep, with no sign of struggle. When he was carried away, all the donkeys gathered and stood motionless in a semi-circle and no one even tried to get out the gate, which was wide open. They quietly paid tribute until he was gone and then they all slipped off. Sheila was very proud of them and very touched.

ponymaid said...

Oh Buddy, you and your woman have our sympathies. We mourned our Gracie cat for a long, long time. I'm glad you have a new character in your family but understand that the sadness will remain. Theodore is the epitomy of wisdom and forgiveness. I don't know many other beings who could behave the way he did.

Gazelle said...

So sorry to hear of the passing of the magnificent Tabolinsky. My sincerest condolences to Sheila and everyone else who cared for and about him. I hope all can find comfort in the knowledge that he enjoyed a period of good care, comfort, and love and in the end passed quietly without suffering.

Thank you for telling us also of Theodore's new life. What a wonderful turnaround for him. Long may he enjoy his just reward.

So good to see that Finn has decided to step into Cindy Lou Who's horseshoes and do his Wonder Pony best to honour her memory both as a Driving Pony and a Blogger. I for one have missed reading CLW's sage comments and look forward to hearing more from her young apprentice.

ponymaid said...

Thank you Gazelle, I wish you had gotten to meet Tabi. We are also thrilled that Finn Pony has decided to try to fill the large shoes left vacant by CLW. He seems to have met his match in Pnut and I suspect he will keep us up to date on their ongoing adventures.

Dougie Donk said...

Oh Sheaffer, the combination of deceased equines & cats was just too much, as we lost Jess cat to an inconsiderate driver on Sunday. You have made our woman cry so much that I now have mascara smears on my neck!

Sheila is an exemplar of how humans should be & I am glad that people like her exist. The world (& many donkeys) would be a much poorer place without them.

We want to send something for both the auction & your birthday party - please post a suitable mailing address?

ponymaid said...

Dougie, I do apologize for those mascara stains on your neck! There have been many tears shed over the death of the Mighty Tabolinski and now you have lost a cat as well. This is all beyond my donkey ken. I keep a close eye on Sally Cat but fortunately she tends to be a home body. I'm not sure what we would do without Sheila - it says something when Jack hasn't seen her for several months and when he hears her voice he lights up like a Christmas tree and tries to pull her into the paddock through the closed gate. Thank you for your kind offer of help - Herself has sent you an email with mailing
address. I will imagine all my donkey friends being there this Saturday - what a time we would have.

Buddy said...

Hay Sheaffer - I wish you the bestest birthday this Saturday. I know you will look like a king with you new crown. Treats - oh how I envy the treats you will be getting. You will be loved on and kissed - you lucky guy!

Have a GREAT time - and tell your woman we expect LOTS of pictures.

Your fren,

ponymaid said...

Buddy, I confess, I hadn't thought of the potential for unlimited treats! Herself can hardly deny me whatever is offered by my guests. I will exploit this rare opportunity to the hilt. Thank you for your good wishes - I will eat a slice of cake on your behalf.

Finn the Wonder Pony said...

(blush!) Thank you, Sheaffer & Co... I'm honored by your greetings and eager to try to pen my own musings here. I won't try to fill Cindy's shoes... one of hers can fit all four of my little pony feet! I'm sure I would trip the first time I tried a fancy move. (I am known for my fancy moves)

What a wonderful story Theodore has! Triumph over adversity with dignity. it completely confounds me that people treat equines poorly. And then to trust again! I was bred and raised by the best, most caring people in the world, I guess. I've never been beaten or even hit in anger. Pnut says she did undergo some rather beastly treatment by her first trainer and it took her a LONG time to come to trust humans again. (4 years) It was a wonderful Cowboy named Derek Wise who finally taught her that she could trust people.... (and cows, but that's a story for her to tell) Another Cowboy, Tom Curtin, told our Mom last year that "she ain't got that look in her eye any more", meaning that the worry had gone out of her face. Ecstatic at their reunion last October and again this March, Pnut has been having enjoying taking our mom for rides.

As for myself, I've become a pretty good little Show Pony... Showed twice in Florida and did pretty well, if I do say so myself. The first time was a Pleasure Show (read: pomp & circumstance) less than 3 weeks after my large companion's passing. I was terrified but did everything that was asked, as well as I could. (I think CLW was driving with me) The second show was what they call an Arena Driving Trial. My woman tensed up in Dressage and we got a horrible score, but she redeemed herself by piloting better in the Cones (3rd out of 12), then 6th in Obstacles. The Obstacles kind of scared me, as they had brightly painted panels and didn't look like there was a way through... we had to make some quick twists and turns. The second time through, I had it figured out better... I really like this sport! Lots of fancy moving!! I'll have herself post some pics on my blog page. (which I haven't been able to get her to write on yet)

ponymaid said...

Finn, I wish you could come for a visit so we could haul those large human "personalities" around a course together. It sounds like you have things well under control at your place - as much as anyone can control a strong character like Pnut. We look forward to reading your blog (with lots of photos). Will Pnut be donning her mother's magnificent "chapeau" this year?