Saturday, November 6, 2010

More About Feet

I have been very busy this last week gleaning information where I can - mostly by sidling up behind the woman and monitoring her conversations with Sheila of the PrimRose Sanctuary. The discussions revolved around a group mysteriously referred to as "The Foot Sore Five". I thought it might be some sort of secret hiking and tour group, hence my intense interest but in fact it is a group of five assorted individuals who have existed in a horrible sort of Limbo for over a decade.

The setting is a gated property with two mansions on it. It has a weed and burdock infested paddock which cannot be seen from the road and in which two donkeys, a small mule, a pony and a llama have been incarcerated for eleven years. The incarceration came about when the "owner" of the animals, declaring himself to be destitute, asked his friend the mansion owner if he could park the group of five in the paddock. The paddock is large enough that the five were able to forage for food but there has been no health or foot care for the duration. The mansion owner seemed to feel that as these were not his animals, he should not expend any sort of energy or money on their well-being.

His sister, upon her return a short while ago, tried to take some action on the foot front and was banished from the family home by her brother, who was infuriated at her interference. The sister, many donkey blessings be upon her head, called Sheila. The brother was even more furious - it seems that even though he doesn't care for animals in general and these in particular, he felt no one should intervene on their behalf. The dust has settled, the four equines are at the sanctuary but the llama, who in her previous life was quite sociable, cannot be caught yet.

I have instructed the woman to post some photos of the shocking state of the collective feet. Paula the female donkey has one back hoof that will never completely recover, as does Timothy the small mule. Stuart, the male donkey, has a better foot outlook as does Juliette the pony. Sheila tells us that their comfort level with humans has soared since arriving at the sanctuary and she has hopes that all will eventually be well enought to find loving homes.

Sheila has llama expert friends, including a vet, socializing the llama, who is called Lillian. She is being fed a warm meal twice a day and is coming around to the idea of entering a trailer. I just hope the angry man who owns the property lets the process move forward. Lillian is missing her charges and needs a home that will care for her properly. I might add that all five, but especially Lillian, are liberally coated in burrs from nose to tail.

Jack and I have had intense discussions as to why so many angry and volatile humans become entangled with the unfortunate members of other species. I know it has something to do with control and power but still...I would have thought this one angry man would have welcomed the chance to empty his paddock. I will give llama news when I have some.

16 comments:

billie said...

Oh my goodness. The poor things, trying to make their way around on those incredibly overgrown hooves. Is there no animal protection society that can strong-arm the man if he gets ornery? That is truly neglect if ever it existed!!

Sheaffer, please give The Woman and Sheila a big hug for the work they do. It makes me feel better knowing they are out there making a difference for donkeys, mules, and now llamas!

ponymaid said...

Billie, I think the angry man should be made to walk for a week in those horribly neglected hoofs. If he has no empathy perhaps a more painful learning experience might break through the wall of arrogance. The Woman is, as you know, terribly flawed, but occasionally manages to rise above her feeble nature. Jack says Sheila is "some kinda saint" and I must agree. Animal Control has very little power or resources so we have faint hope on that front. Poor Lillian Llama must be awfully itchy is her coat of many burrs. I have not met any llamas personally but admit I like the sound of their stately nature and dignified bearing.

billie said...

Sheaffer, I'm not sure you know this, but both Rafer Johnson and Redford's home of origin is a small farm called Elevenses - they have miniature donkeys AND llamas, and so we have been treated to many visits with not only the extraordinary donkeys, including R&R's parents and siblings and half-siblings, but the amazing llamas that live there too. They are regal and very friendly. That one is suffering right now makes me sad.

OzArab said...

Oh dear :(
Why do humans go so blind to suffering??
Well done to The Woman and Sheila for achieving so much.

Buddy said...

Hay Sheaffer - those poor babies look like they have elf feet - disgusting. Mine hoofies are done every 8 weeks without fail. Mom has see a pony with feet so bad they never did grow normal after seeing a farrier regularly for years. Its so so sad.

Maybe the mean men should not cut their toenails for 10 years and see how that feels!

Your fren,

ponymaid said...

Billie, it does not surprise me to hear that llamas are regal by nature. It pains me greatly to think of poor Lillian alone in a field, trying to trust the new humans to help her in escaping her wretched captivity. She must feel very lonely and confused right now. I do not know about llama foot care but assume eleven years is a long time for anyone to go without a pedicure. Or a good grooming. Or deworming.

ponymaid said...

Oz, my friend it's good to hear from you. We were all distraught when we saw the photos of the terrible feet and it distresses me even more to think that Sheila has seen much worse. Some humans apparently feel no empathy whatsoever with other living beings. It puzzles me greatly.

ponymaid said...

Buddy, yes, they do look like elf foot slippers. Paula Donkey and Timothy Mule will always have problems with one back foot even once foot care is in place. The veterinarian says they have been in acute pain for some time and they are taking medicaments for the next while. It's all so unnecessary and cruel and very, very discouraging.

Buddy said...

Hay Sheaffer - has the wonderful Miss Sheila had time to groom these poor burr covered equines? That is gonna be a big job - maybe trim the stuff off and put a nice blankie on them to keep them warm. I bet they don't even know a what a blankie is. Mom and me gonna keep them in our prayers - even Poor Lillian - all alone - scared - wondering where her frens went :(

Your fren

ponymaid said...

Buddy, the four who were transferred to the sanctuary were somewhat shell shocked but are coming around nicely now they realize they are amongst friends. They are indeed being deburred and lavished with affection - and footcare and dewormer. Don't tell Jack that last bit. We have such terribly long and cold winters that it's hoped they can keep their own coats. If not, then donkey-sized eiderdowns might be in order...

Finn the Wonder Pony said...

Ouch! My feet hurt just looking at those pictures! How can people be so cruel? All I have ever known is love, kisses and treats from humans. My woman thinks the people who let this happen should be made to have their toenails grow to 8 inches, then walk around that way for 8 years.

Gazelle said...

I agree with Finn, except 8 inches / 8 years insn't long enough. Both the property owner who neglected those poor animals and their original owner who abandonned them there should be made to cram their own overgrown toenails into too tight shoes every day for the next 11 years, the same length of time those poor animals have been so neglected.

Then they might just begin to understand the extent of the unforgivable harm they have done ... or not, that type being notoriously dense.

ponymaid said...

Finn Pony, Jack and I have been mulling it over and we feel a few years of having his feet bound increasingly tightly might be the answer. Does anything get through to this sort of human? I wonder.

ponymaid said...

Gazelle, the toe nail idea has merit as well. Anything that might give him the idea of the pain and suffering he has caused by simply refusing to act. I wish a whole platoon of us could show up on his doorstep to question him closely.

completecare said...

Hi Sheaffer,

We were also distressed by the latest pictures. It is too bad that the names of the people responsible for this cruelty can't be circulated so that people in their social circle or their business associates could hear about their actions. Too some people the cruelty of their actions doesn't matter but money and social status might make them think twice.

Thank goodness for Sheila and all her volunteers and supporters. What would these donkeys etc. do without her?
Your Fan,

Willy

ponymaid said...

Willy, I like that idea greatly - ostracizing the neglecter/abuser might actually mean something to him. I hear your woman has been helping Sheila with various things these days - she's what Jack would call a "keeper" and I call a stellar example of a human.