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Monday, August 9, 2021

Good Sheep


We lost two good sheep today.  One I loved from the very day I met him and one who took 15 years for a truce friendship to form. 

Woody has been terribly sick.  It took a long time to figure out what was going wrong, but he bravely fought like a warrior for four long weeks.  I just don't have the energy to type out what all was/went wrong.  I will say that if you have a sheep that's just "not right" and you can't figure anything out, ask your vet to test for anaplasmosis.

We had a great team of people helping try to keep him going long enough for the treatment to work.  No one worked any harder than Woody.  And in classic Woody fashion, he stayed cheerful and friendly and patient and let me know he knew we were trying to help him.  

He'd had to move into Easy Breezy because Jared was not being nice to him, but he liked Cheeto and Willard and they had fun sharing some hay together and I thought things might be turning around.  Last night he seemed a little down and when he asked to go back in with his old friends, I decided that might be a good boost after a long, hot day.  

I locked Rocky and Jared into Del Boca Vista so they wouldn't cause him any trouble and when I left at the last check he was out in the barn lot cheerfully eating some hay with everyone.  I looked forward to seeing him out grazing with them the next morning.  

Sometime during the night I think he stumbled over the board at the end of the stall and he landed hard and in a bad position and in his weakened condition could not get himself back up.  I found him early this morning, but the damage had been done.  We worked hard all day in hopes he'd rally, but he let me know he was too tired and that was our deal.  He was one of my all time favorite sheep.

Woody
May 2014 - August 9, 2021



Beanie Baby, on the other hand, was never a favorite sheep.  In fact, there was an incident years ago involving Ewen McTeagle that if it hadn't ended well for Ewen (due entirely to Beanie's irrational stupidity), I'd have...well, let's just leave it at that.  "You are here.  You are part of our family.  I'll take care of you.  I don't have to like you...and, honestly, I really pretty much don't."

Beanie Baby was one of the sheep who looked at me. And while he spent many years trying not to catch my eye at all, the last couple of years, as he's gotten old, I'd catch him making eye contact with me and I think he finally understood things like not getting shorn with the main group in the spring and me shearing him by hand once the weather was good and warm.  

That if he could bring himself to duck through an opened gate that I'd give him some much needed grain. That if he'd let me catch him and pick dried mud from between his too tiny toes that his feet would feel better.

This spring he just laid down on the shearing stand and let me give him his summer haircut.  And I was happy to do it.  I gave him a good scratching when we were finished and told him he was a good sheep.  He still wasn't my most favorite sheep...but after all those years, we'd finally become friends, maybe even good friends.

Over the weekend I noticed some flies buzzing around his bad horn.  He'd cracked it on something and it was infected deep inside and while we were able to clean it up enough to get him through the weekend so our favorite vet could check him, I had a feeling that at 16 years old it was not going to be something we were going to be able to fix.  

Beanie Baby
April 2005 - August 9, 2021
 

23 comments:

Unknown said...

I will miss Woody's famous cookie routine on Hug a Sheep Day. He was a love, and I'm so sorry for your loss. Definitely a Sheep with Character, in abundance. VT

Amy Rohn said...

I'm so sorry to hear this.... you are the greatest sheep mom and I know they all know how much you love them. Big hugs from me to you 💕

Leslie said...

I guess this is what happens as you age - you begin to lose your old friends. But you've lost way too many over the last couple years. I'm so sorry these two are now part of the sad list. Take care.

Sheepmom said...

Two very different sheep and two completely different relationships with them but both knew you were their caretaker. Woody always knew and appreciated it, Beanie Baby came to understand it even if it took years for him to admit it. You did your best for both of them at a level that they were both comfortable with. Woody leaves an especially deep hole in the flock. Give yourself some time to regain your equilibrium. This has been a hard, hard time. RIP Woody and Beanie Baby.

Far Side of Fifty said...

Aww I am so sorry, yes I knew Woody was struggling from your facebook photos...poor boy. It was a doubly hard day for you...I am so sorry:(

Shirley said...

(((Hugs)))

Michelle said...

Oh, Sara, not TWO. Frankly, this is a summer that I would have avoided at all costs if given the option. My heart just hurts.

Mary Ann said...

I'm so very sorry for your losses.

ElaineChicago said...

Sara and Tim, this has not been a good year for you and your Flock. I’m terribly sorry for. lol the losses you’ve suffered this year and know that you have many happy memories to call upon in times of grief and distress.

Grey Horse Matters said...

I’m so sorry to hear this. Losing two of your beloved friends is a heart breaker. Feel better knowing they loved you and how you cared for them. They had the best of all places to live their lives.

Claire MW said...

So sad to read about your losses, but lovely to read about the good memories of these wonderful woolly characters.

Juliana said...

I'm so sorry about your losses. What a good life you provide for your animals. And what joy they so often give you.

Terry and Linda said...

The tears are flowing here. I enjoyed your Woody so very much and I loved the Kingly stance of Beanie Baby.

Grief is such a hard thing...

Love you, Sara.
Linda

Delrene said...

I am so sorry fir the loss of your sweet Woody and Beanie Baby.
They knew how much you cared tor them. The loss hurts like a deep cut wound. I hope you can enjoy the memories and take comfort in your other sweet sheep who love you lots.
A very hard day.

LannieK said...

Woody, sweet Woody. One of the sweetest, cookie & party lovin', adventure sheep ever. You will be so missed. BB, the Jacob with heritage who knew who loved him. Different personalities - Yet loved.
)))hugs(((
You give them all the best ~ luv ya!

Lisa said...

Enough loss for the year. Woody was truly a Very Good Sheep and Beanie Baby sounded like he was working hard on the role. I am so sorry.

bobbieliz said...


Sara, I am so sad to hear that Woody has died. He certainly fought hard to come back to health and you worked so hard to try to get him there. He had wonderful years with a great flock family and a great "Mom."

Sybil J. said...

I am so sorry to hear about your loss. Thank you for sharing the good and the sad. I feel like a member of the family. Sending you hugs of comfort.

Anonymous said...

Sometimes I think we are crazy to love animals that we know we are going to lose far too soon...But then again living without them would be hell on earth. 💔💞 K.Littrell

Rhumpelthreadz said...

I'm so sorry Sara. You've lost so many this year. I cry with you for every one. Biggest of hugs.

karen said...

So very sorry for your losses!

Karen at longwell said...

What a heartbreaking day for you Sara...Thank you for all you do for your sheep and farm family and for sharing so much with all of us. So very, very sad....

FullyFleeced said...

so sorry. what a hard day. ((hugs)) logging away the anaplasmosis info for future reference.

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