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Friday, November 18, 2011

Happy Birthday Renny!


Renny, far left, out with her peeps this morning :-).It was just about this time, one year ago today, that I was driving back from an animal shelter a few counties away with a wretched sheep in the back of my car. I remember looking into the back of the shelter's pickup truck and seeing this horribly injured, rotting smelling, so covered in burrs that I couldn't tell if she had hair or wool (not that it mattered) animal that only barely resembled a sheep.

I backed my car as close to the pickup truck as I could and we dragged her into the back of my car on a sheet. We jostled her and she cried out. She cried some along the way out of there and I kept telling her it was going to be alright, it's going to be alright, it's going to be alright...but I knew it wasn't. I called our vets to let them know I was en route and that we probably needed to put her down.

As best we can piece together, Renny and two of her friends had been chased by some dogs. One sheep was found dead in the field. Renny was found stuck belly deep in mud in a pond. She'd been there for several days and coyotes had started eating her alive. A local news crew had been out, the humane society called. I received an email from my friend Shelley at the exact time Tim saw the story on the nightly news.

I knew there was no kind way to get her inside the clinic, so Dr. Baron came out to the car. In the cold rain. She had several of us stand around the opening of the car to block anyone passing by from seeing what she was looking at. She could instantly tell by the smell what sort of infection had set in and we were all surprised she was still alive. All surprised except Renny, now that we know her better ;-).

It took 2 hours to get her cleaned up and ready to head home. Dr. Baron would work on her for while and then see a scheduled appointment and then back out to the car. I remember being cold, Renny being cold. I remember calling my friend Eleanor, saying I wasn't sure we were doing the right thing, that I wasn't sure I could handle this. I remember calling Kathy to see if she could meet me at the farm to help me unload her. I remember Louann getting back from a farm call and offering to come out and help me take care of her that first night. I will never forget that.

I will also never forget Renny hobbling into the stall that late afternoon, with huge holes in her butt and both back legs, sticking her head down into a pile of hay, coming up with a huge mouthful. "I'm going to be okay. Don't you worry."

I will never forget her and Miss Ewenice tootling around in the back yard, napping under the pine tree. Me and Stella sewing up a warm sheep coat after a nice couple came out and sheared all the burrs and most of the mud off her. How Renny would calmly lay down when she knew we were going to doctor on her. Louann trying to pick her up near the end and Renny having gotten so fat she couldn't do it and we both got to laughing so hard that I think we might have hurt Renny's feelings :-).

Louann calls Renny Everybody's Ewe - Ebe. I have a feeling there is a little bit of her story tucked away in a lot of people's hearts, near and far. So many people came out and helped take care of her. We poked and prodded and scrubbed and cut and poked some more. She never held a grudge. I think she knew...or knowing Renny, probably didn't expect any less. There's probably a lesson there. There are probably many lessons from Renny.

I am not a tough person. I used to worry about something happening like getting really sick or injured and me not being able to handle it. I'd think twice about that now. I wasn't sure I could do the actual work to take care of her. I wouldn't think twice about that now. Some people might find it odd or wrong to think just because a sheep could live through what she did, that maybe I could too. I think now I probably wouldn't expect any less.


Happy Birthday Renny! You are your own best present. For us all.

35 comments:

Anchor Cottage said...

You tell the best stories, that one brought tears to my eyes. Thank you.

liza said...

Wow. Good people. Good sheep. Happy Birthday to Renny.

Susan said...

Yes, I got teary all over again. It's really something what we can be "up to" under the watchful eye of the right sheep. What a marvelous life you've given Renny. I know she's given back as well.

Anonymous said...

Amen & Amen. Happy Birthday Renny!

Jean - MN

Anonymous said...

The will to survive is amazingly strong in both humans and animals. It's surprising what one can do when needed. Thanks for sharing.
Marcy

Shirley said...

I always wondered what her story was. God bless the people who found her, kept the coyotes away, and called the SPCA. And you, for rescuing her and nursing her (with help! ) back to health. Such a horrendous beginning deserves the tranquil setting in the video.

Gayle said...

You are a Saint for helping her.

Ed said...

Its been a year already?! Happy anniversary Renny!!!!! :-)

janna e said...

I think Renny is a good lesson for us all. She is lucky she stumbled across you. Her story might have had a very different ending if she hadn't. Thank you Sara, for being a big pushover and taking her on. And thank you to all your friends who have helped so much along the way. Happy Birthday Renny! Here is to MANY more happy years.

Christine said...

Happy Birthday, Renny! Love you!

Jenny said...

That brought tears to my eyes too, what a wonderful life she has now with you. Happy birthday Renny!

Terry and Linda said...

You had me in tears! You are right...she is the best present to all of us. And, Dear Friend, you are the best present also.

You farm is lovely!

Linda
http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com
http://deltacountyhistoricalsociety.wordpress.com

Lori Skoog said...

Happy Birthday Sweet Renny. You have a very special Mama....

Anonymous said...

Happy birthday Renny! You and your human mom are an inspiration!

Terry said...

Oh my God! I'm bawling.

Alice said...

What a wellspring of emotions are tied to Renny’s story. Watching her jump over that puddle and knowing that last year at this time it wasn’t even possible makes one believe in earth angels and miracles.

Sheepmom said...

Many happy returns of the day, Renny! Whatever your life was like in the years before landing at Equinox farm, you are safe in Heaven-on-earth now. I hope you enjoy many years of birthday cookies.

Jody said...

Happy Birthday Renny...you are an inspiration to us all :-)sniff,sniff

Karen said...

OMG---that story was both so sad and so uplifting.

Denise said...

YOU and Renny are both amazing! Her fleece looks nice....have you any guesses what breed she is?

Deb W said...

What a lovely girl Renny is! It's beyond belief that it is the same sheep!

You are giving Tim a run for his money in the 'saint' department. We'll have to have medals made. (for now - you'll get your crowns in heaven...)

I'm gonna tell Mom! said...

Bless you both!
kim

Sassafras and Winterberry said...

Yes, this was definitely a tear jerker, for sure! Happy Birthday Renny!!

Eleanor P said...

Happy Birthday Renny! Sorry I didn't get to the farm to tell you in person. What a year! I knew Sara could make things better for you and I'm glad you knew it too. And, there's a little Lorna Doonebuggy looking down with a smile on her face, glad that she was able to direct you to Sara so she could heal along with you. Welcome to heaven on earth happy sheep.

Janice Grinyer said...

Renny; a ewe after my own heart :D

happy birthday dear sheeplady Renny!

Janice Grinyer said...

Renny; a ewe after my own heart :D

happy birthday dear sheeplady Renny!

small farm girl said...

Aaaawwwww! Happy Birthday Renny.

Benita said...

She be fluffy!

I am amazed at how green it still is in November, even with that frost on the ground.

Renny is a lucky sheep, you you are lucky to have her in your flock.

Far Side of Fifty said...

Happy Birthday Renny..she is an inspiration as are you..I think you willed her to live:)

Anonymous said...

Heart of a lion, that Renny. I'm all choked up now. And so glad she found you.

Tami Weingartner said...

Renny is gorgeous. What breed is she?

thecrazysheeplady said...

At least part Shetland. Not sure where she gets those ears. Maybe Hampshire?

Shelley said...

I'm sitting here with tears streaming down my face. I'm so thankful for what you and all the others did to help Renny. I think you are the neatest person I've ever known and thank God for your friendship. God bless you Crazysheeplady!

Auntie Reg said...

Renny has come a long way. Thanks to you and Ms. Ewenice. She recently took coolies from my hand. What a delight.

Miriam Pittenger said...

Wow, Renny. I bought some of her beautiful wool from you today at the Kentucky Sheep & Fiber Festival, and you told me to look up her backstory when I got the chance. I could tell it would be something special, but had no idea what a true *survivor* she is. Also, I think I know your Dr. Baron, if she's the one who runs the Madison Animal Clinic and inherited her practice from her dad. Anyway, I would love this wool for aesthetics alone if I knew nothing else about it, but now that I have some idea where it came from, and what kind of warm-hearted people brought it to market, the whole experience of spinning & knitting with it is going to mean that much more. THANK YOU!!

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