Monday, August 30, 2010

Now, Where was I...?

Oh yes, I was going to tell you about a new arrival at PrimRose.

It happened this way. The woman saw a notice on some sort of bulletin board in the ether and it said a lonely donkey was looking for a home. She made contact with a very concerned woman who said the farmer next to her had received a herd of steers and there cowering in the back of the trailer was a bedraggled donkey with deformed feet. The farmer was surprised and far from pleased as he had no desire to be a donkey caretaker. It transpired that this was quite a large donkey who was in decent body weight but whose feet had collapsed and grown freakishly long from years of neglect. The donkey had survived by eating the very rich cattle food but it had taken a toll on his teeth.

Herself put Sheila in touch with the kind neighbour of the farmer and a pickup of the donkey was arranged for the next day. On arrival, it transpired that the farmer had locked the gate to the paddock and gone away for the day. Thus, the poor footsore creature was made to walk a long way around the back and down a rocky hill filled with holes. He was exhausted and in pain when he made it to the trailer. He was in such agony that Sheila, who has seen many sad cases, just hoped and prayed he could make it to the sanctuary.

He did, and was greeted by a bevy of volunteers who descended on him, handfeeding him treats, which were a novelty to him, and combing out some of his long matted coat, whilst allowing him time to look around and take his bearings. He was helped to a paddock with a run-in but as he had never been indoors in any sort of structure, he preferred to lie under a large, shady tree. His food and water was transferred over to him and he tucked into the hay and then lay down for a long rest. An emergency call from the farrier confirmed that his feet were indeed in wretched shape but she does feel he can be made comfortable. He has been named O'Sullivan after the quite wonderful human who facilitated his rescue. She deserves a big thank you for taking time out of her hectic schedule to improve the lot of a throwaway donkey that wasn't even her responsibility. I have researched the concept of karma and I devoutly hope a vast quantity of it is on the way to her.

O'Sullivan is improving daily, especially in his overall outlook on life. He is being pampered and loved by everyone around him and his coat is now free of mats and is the snowy white it should be. His feet have had their first trim and the vet estimates his age as mid-twenties. He is on pain meds for his feet for now but hopefully time will prove to be the best healer and allow him to lead the life he deserves.

Meanwhile, another rescue donkey, Simon, was taken to the sanctuary last week. He comes from a household where the male human detested him so much he threatened to kill him if the woman there didn't get rid of him immediately. Though equally bullied herself, the woman called Sheila and begged her to come and get Simon. Simon is quiet and shy - in no way a being who should provoke rage and hatred from a human, but there you have it. His tail has been broken and no longer works to swish flies away or to express donkey thoughts. Twisting tails and hoisting reluctant donkeys into the trailer is the preferred loading method of some and the results speak for themselves.

There are photos and I will chivvy the woman into posting them - they had to be scanned or scoped or serigraphed or something and so are somewhat harder to get onto the blog.

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

The "Ladies" Return

Well. The two would-be mountain climbers are back, no doubt leaving the Adirondacks pulverized into gravel and all those cold mountain rivers drained dry. I can only wonder at the judgement of the authorities that let them return year after year.

Our in-house help was quite satisfactory and Sally had her convinced that her food bowl must be filled to brimming at all times. This woman is unfortunately a seasoned horse person and never let down her guard enough for us to slide into the barn or tack room unnoticed. Other than that, she was most pleasant. She did pronounce my body shape to be"astounding", which I choose to take as a great compliment.

The pears are now so over-ripe that the legions of crows - I believe it is rightly called a "murder" of crows - spend their days becoming inebriated and falling from the branches. Once on the ground the most terrible brawls break out, lowering the tone of the entire neighbourhood. Tsk tsk tsk. Where is the Ladies Temperance League when you need them.

PS I almost forgot to mention that our food supply for the year is being prepared, right here in our own fields, even as I write. Acres and acres of the finest hay, I assume all for me (I mean us). It is being packaged in small squares and large rolls and Jack and I have inspected each and every unit. The woman was quick to assure me that the large rolls are destined for cattle feed but we shall see, we shall see. I think one of those units would make for a sensibly-sized donkey breakfast.

Saturday, August 14, 2010

I May Have To Fire Her

Enough is enough. My transcription services have been shoddy this summer, to say the least. I thought I had things back under control, but no. Herself and Molly are off to stomp around the mountains again - hah, I doubt the mountains will ever be the same.

I have a story to tell you about another donkey rescue that has ended with the donkey in question now being safe at PrimRose. But of course it must wait...

Oh well, at least Doc is home to keep us well guarded while the female element hits the road. We have a new woman coming in to do our housekeeping. We met her today and so far she has my seal of approval. I will report on that as well.

I'm off to brood under the trees; I may take legal action against the Woman and need to build a solid case.

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

iam bak!!!!!

this is doc speekin and i am bak home now i had a reeeely good time at camp once i remembereded to stop screemin at everybody. its hard keepin trak of some fortey horses instead of only threee so after day one i give up and just relaxed and chilled. i had my own padduck with some grass and lotsa buddies in the nex padducks. some trees for shade and some hay and water in there. i had a big room an regulur meels. woman came over nearly every day and when it wasnt tooo hot we rode a bit. when i got bak today my peeps were waitin and we did some yellin and runnin around and then i got down to some grass and rollin in the sand. i plan to visit the other place regular so they dont forget me though the woman say once i met anyone they never forget me.

Russian Donkey Now In England

Thanks to Buddy in Nevada for the update on the poor, parasailing donkey in southern Russia. There was certainly no justice done in that country but at least the tormented soul has a lifetime of good care before her now. Heaven help the other hapless creatures who have the misfortune to dwell in that nation.



http://www.care2.com/causes/animal-welfare/blog/parasailing-donkey-rescued-and-offered-star-studded-home/

Monday, August 9, 2010

Sanctuary News

My faithful correspondent, Laurel, she who is devoted to the mini-dervish TJ/Virgil, has sent us some news of the sanctuary happenings. The news is good.

First of all, it seems that little Annabelle is not with child after all, much to the relief of everyone. Sheila was correct in assuming the beachball effect was caused by an enormous load of internal parasites. Annabelle is blossoming under all the care and attention she is receiving and is following close on the heels of PrimRose in operating as a sanctuary PR donkey. In fact, so people-oriented is she that there is talk of her travelling along with PrimRose and assuming at least a corner of the mantle of office.

ChristinaRose, the lamb, has doubled in size and quadrupled in energy and has become the resident ovine clown/entertainer. All traces of shyness have disappeared and she has developed a talent for climbing - she can hoist herself up into the food cupboard so efficiently that I wouldn't be surprised if she transfers her stall sign onto that door and sets up office in there.

Leon has been put in a paddock with some other boys, having gotten to know them over the fence, and he, and they, are all pleased with the arrangement. His "brain surgery" is on hold until the cooler weather. He is a sensitive and intelligent soul who is beginning to emerge from his state of cautionary fear. One day he will go home with just the right human, someone who has been waiting for exactly such a donkey as Leon.

The newest arrival at the sanctuary is a three year old female goat who was raised on the bottle (Jack assumed that meant the liquor bottle but I imagine it was milk...). Her name is as yet undecided but the debate rages on, with Dorothy being one of the names put forward. She is still a bit timid and shy but ChristinaRose is showing her the road to becoming a newer, bolder goat. Poor Helen, the venerable and ancient ovine, is now outnumbered two to one. Her rate of "tsk tak tsking" has soared.

Wednesday, August 4, 2010

I'm Back - Finally

I haven't exactly been away, except down the farm lane with visitors, but Herself has been so distracted by various things that I haven't been able to chivvy her into doing my transcribing. I obviously need more than one secretary.

We have had visitors from all geographic directions and every last one proved to be a donkeyphile. I have advised the Woman to keep a list of those who are coolish toward Jack and self and to subtlely allow them to slide off the bottom of the list. My plan must be working.

The first group of visitors was Sheila with volunteers Laurel and Christine and Margaret who ran the bake sale at my birthday party. As you can imagine, that was a most satisfactory visit. The only real downside was that we were not invited to dine "at table" with them. Our next group of donkey visitors consisted of two adult humans and Erin, my lifetime friend and her colleague, Alice. Erin is still the only human to have sat upon my back many years ago. They devoted their entire visit to us and when they weren't grooming us, feeding us tasty morsels or walking us down the path, they simply sat in the shade closeby and admired our sheer donkeyness. The Woman dubbed them the Donkey Handmaidens. How we wish they lived nearby. I do have one serious complaint about their visit - they went to Stratford to see "The Tempest", with Christopher Plummer as Prospero. I am bitterly disappointed to have been left behind - she knows I have committed all of Shakespeare's works to memory and I am outraged at the slight.

The next group of humans are some sort of relations to the woman - same breeding on the dam's side, I gather. These were micro-humans and what they lacked in donkey wisdom they made up for with enthusiasm. I should note that under a certain size, human offspring have quite sticky hands and are disposed to share any food substance in their possession - some of it is even edible. Most recently, Annie the Glamour Horse appeared with her human to accompany Molly and Herself on the 25km ride to battle cancer. I'm afraid Jack still has "feelings" for the beauteous one and am afraid they continue unreciprocated. On the brighter side, Susan, one of my human friends, designed shirts of a royal purple hue with my photo on the back (in my crown and sash) and those were the official "Team Sheaffer" apparel for the ride.

We have a few more herds of humans due before end of summer and although I enjoy the diversion, I could wish for better transcription service for the duration. I'm off to continue basking in the heat and humidity. Herself is off to lie like a beached Orca in front of the fan. Plus ca change...