Sunday, December 5, 2010

A Good News/Bad News Report

It's windy and snowing - that is always bad news. Apart from that I have information on the Foot Sore Five who were rescued and as is often the case, the reports are mixed.

Juliette, the quite charming pony, had her first foot trim and was discovered to have one very twisted back foot and leg. It was thought that with time this could be, if not fixed, at least made to be comfortable. Shortly afterwards, the vet performed a complete physical on her and the news was uniformly both bad and sad. Over the eleven years she had been incarcerated in the weedy paddock, her health had been severely compromised. She suffered from such extreme malnutrition that her teeth had rotted away and, in spite of a misshapen round belly, her health had been damaged beyond repair.

The vet felt that given the coming winter, coupled with Juliette's failing health, the kindest thing to do would be to help her slip off to be with Tabi and the others who reside on the other side. And so, because of one human's arrogance and ignorance, Juliette left us long before her time. I hope she has found peace and comfort. She knew unending love at the sanctuary for a short while and that must count for something...

Now, some good news. Lillian Llama has been adopted into a home that already houses a llama named Cinnamon and the two lady llamas have become inseperable. Lillian had her coat of burrs clipped off and the halter that was growing into her face removed. She is being pampered and cossetted and is loving every minute of her new life. There are some horses and an alpaca there as well and the two ladies can survey the scene and tut-tut to their heart's content while ingesting the best of everything.

Simon and O'Sullivan Donkey have both had dental care and the raw wounds on their tongues and the insides of their mouths (from years of pointy teeth rubbing) have begun to heal. They are both, after some fairly heated discussions, now wearing cozy winter blankets. They reluctantly agree it's much more comfortable than shivering away the calories they need to grow healthy. Simon arrived with a broken tail and spine damage but the vet feels that as he is young it will probably heal within the year. O'Sullivan's shocking feet are beginning to come around and may even approach a reasonable state of normal some day. He is standing and moving about much more these days. And now neither is dropping wads of food as they try to eat. In fact, Simon is doing his best to frolic, in spite of his handicap, and is being soundly told off by the much senior O'Sullivan.

Peter Donkey was found to have two abcesses and a huge crack across his bad foot. The farrier cleaned out the abcesses and allowed them to drain and packed the crevice with some medicinal material. Peter is feeling much more comfortable. Once again, his situation was completely preventable and was due solely to the shocking lack of care at the inhuman human's. I join the llama ladies in tut-tutting at the insanity of parts of the human race. And thank Sheila for trying to balance the damage they do.

14 comments:

Buddy said...

Oh no! RIP Juliette - run with all the great ones in heaven. You are now pain free!

Your Fren,

billie said...

Sheaffer, if the perpetuation of the human race was based on its treatment of fellow creatures, it would surely be extinct by now. :/

I am so sad to here of Juliette Pony. But glad she got to experience true nurturing before she moved on to be with the others who have gone before her.

The tale of the llama ladies is heartwarming, and I'm sending lots of healing thoughts to the others who have some way to go to get up to snuff health-wise.

I am ashamed sometimes to be part of the same species as the humans who treat their animal friends that way. And yet proud to be part of the same group as Shelia and The Woman, who truly go the extra mile.

I know you must bear some misery living with The Woman, but even so, you must give her a big donkey hug tonight. She might fail miserably at times, but you have to admit, she keeps you warm, and trimmed, and floated, and at least MODESTLY fed.

BumbleVee said...

Rest easy little Juliette.....

Poor Sheila.... I know this will break her heart.... but, under the circumstances ..it really was the kindest thing to do. I wish we could also do the same for our human friends who are very sick.

On the other hand... there are things I'd like to do to some humans that are probably better left unsaid.

I'm with billie..... embarrassed to be related in any way to those who could treat animals with such cruelty.... it makes me want to lash out irrationally ..as the shrinks would say...

Big hugs to Sheila and her wonderful volunteers ... they are amazing assets to the human race...

ponymaid said...

Buddy, I hope she is in a place with unlimited green grass, fresh water and no pesky insects. And of course where her feet and teeth will never ache again.

ponymaid said...

Billie, how true! If the "baddies" - Jack's words - were weeded out it sometimes seems as if there would be scant few humans left standing. Thank goodness for the six happy acres that comprise the sanctuary. You are kind, too kind, with your diplomatic words for Herself. Could you perhaps persuade her that donkeys need to live in a heated residence during the winter months? One with all the amenities? I will send your kind words of comfort and encouragement on to the sanctuary residents who are still struggling. Thank you.

ponymaid said...

Vee, how I wish you could drop in for an impromptu visit with the villan who kept the five poor souls prisoner for over a decade! Perhaps he would listen to your observations on his character flaws...I would like to be a fly on the wall in that case. Juliette should be leading a happy life with a family who loves her dearly and cares for her every need. Instead she was left to decline to such a state that her life was unbearable. How unnecessary and how utterly despicable.

Anonymous said...

Sheaffer

Pls tell us that criminal charges are proceeding against this fiend. If not, you must implore the Woman to extract affidavits from Sheila and the footman detailing this demonic behaviour. Surely this is certifiably ABUSE not mere "neglect".

Gazelle said...

As I shake my head in disgust at this needless pain and loss I am reminded of a quote:

"Compassion towards animals is essentially bound up with goodness of character.
Whoever is cruel to them, cannot be good to men."
-- Arthur Schopenhauer

I might add "neglectful" as just as much an offense as being overtly cruel.

Thank Heavens for the Good News bits to give us all hope.

ponymaid said...

Fred and Ginger, sadly the authorities (such as they are) are quite incapable of deciding what to have for lunch, let alone taking action on the animal abuse front. Sheila has much experience in this area...All sane and reasonable humans agree that this sort of neglect is outrageous but in fact there really is no preventing it.

ponymaid said...

Gazelle, I believe Ghandi and a few other humans voiced the same thought - and it is inevitably and sadly true. Some humans are just not able, or are perhaps unwilling, to generate any sort of empathy for fellow living beings. Thank goodness for the Sheilas of this world who strive to redress the balance.

Dougie Donk said...

Through my tears for poor Juliette, I feel the need to share this tale that I received today :

A man and his dog were walking along a road.The man was enjoying the scenery, when it suddenly occurred to him that he was dead.

He remembered dying, and that the dog walking beside him had been dead for years. He wondered where the road was leading them.After a while, they came to a high, white stone wall along one side of the
road. It looked like fine marble..

At the top of a long hill, it was broken by a tall arch that glowed in the sunlight.When he was standing before it, he saw a magnificent gate in the arch that looked like mother-of-pearl, and the street that led to the gate looked like pure gold.

He and the dog walked toward the gate, and as he got closer, he saw a man at a desk to one side. When he was close enough, he called out, 'Excuse me, where are we?'

'This is Heaven, sir,' the man answered..

'Wow! Would you happen to have some water?' the man asked.

'Of course, sir. Come right in, and I'll have some ice water brought right up.'

The man gestured, and the gate began to open. 'Can my friend,' gesturing toward his dog, 'come in, too?' the traveller asked.

'I'm sorry, sir, but we don't accept pets.'

The man thought a moment and then turned back toward the road and continued the way he had been going with his dog.

After another long walk, and at the top of another long hill, he came to a dirt road leading through a farm gate that looked as if it had never been closed. There was no fence.

As he approached the gate, he saw a man inside, leaning against a tree and reading a book....

'Excuse me!' he called to the man. 'Do you have any water?'

'Yeah, sure, there's a pump over there, come on in.'

'How about my friend here?' the traveller gestured to the dog.

'There should be a bowl by the pump,' said the man.

They went through the gate, and sure enough, there was an old-fashioned hand pump with a bowl beside it.

The traveller filled the water bowl and took a long drink himself,
then he gave some to the dog.

When they were full, he and the dog walked back toward the man who was standing by the tree..

'What do you call this place?' the traveller asked.

'This is Heaven,' he answered.

'Well, that's confusing,' the traveller said.'The man down the road said that was Heaven, too.'

'Oh, you mean the place with the gold street and pearly gates? Nope.. That's hell.'

'Doesn't it make you mad for them to use your name like that?'

'No, we're just happy that they screen out the folks who would leave their best friends behind.'

Run free Juliette, you deserve it.

ponymaid said...

Dougie, how beautiful and how utterly appropriate. Thank you for sending that. I hope Juliette is kicking up her heels and running free on four healthy little pony feet. And I hope her jailer is enjoying his gated property with the two mansions - I'm sure he thinks it's heaven...

PrimRose said...

PrimRose and I would like to thank you for your kind words of sympathy. It is always so difficult to make the decision. When you looked at Juliette, you saw a beautiful little pony, round in body, heavy furry coat and standing on four solid hooves. BUT the vet pointed out her round body is bloated from malnutrition, her furry coat heavy for winter protection and hooves so sore she barely moved. The dental work would have been very extensive and possibly added to her discomfort until her mouth healed. It is always such a hard decsion and you wishes when you look into their eyes they can tell you it's O.K.- they understand. Juliette is buried in a beautiful yellow and green comforter between Tabi and Elvira. PrimRose and I wish you and your barn a very happy and healthy 2011.

ponymaid said...

Prim and Sheila, so glad you found your way here. It's hard to say goodbye, especially when it's someone like Juliette who had options but whose fate was determined by a selfish, cold-hearted "owner". Her final resting place sounds calm and peaceful. We wish you all the best in the coming year - lots of health and happiness for all.