sad days at my farm...

[Tumbulu]

Sunday morning a neighbor called to say sheep were loose near the highway. I went down and sure enough the electric fence had ben turned off by some unknown person and one ewe was out. But I got her back in and then they all came back up towards the house. But I saw an older ewe just laying still. So I walked over to investigate and found that her front right leg and her back left leg were down in a crack of the earth- you know when the ground dries up so much that it cracks? So, I had to pull her out and then she could barely walk, so I got her to my truck and drove her up to the barn where she could eat and drink. And I shut that pasture and had them go to the adjoining one which has irrigation and so the grass there is green and there are no known cracks in the earth there. The next day this same ewe went down to that pasture with the flock (and sometimes when the food is changed too rapidly they get sick) I found her dead there yesterday. So, I should have kept her in a pen up at the barn to let her recover from this trauma of being stuck in the ground like that. I just did not realize that these cracks in the earth were such a hazard and I was focussing on that danger. Not food change dangers.

I hurt my back doing all the lifting though (the ewe weighed maybe 80 lbs) and had to get help from my chiropractor- who is wonderful.

Then today when I went to pick my daughter up from school I was loading lots of stuff in the car and trunk and then started up the car and backed up and my kitty cat must have been sleeping behind a tire because I ran him over and he died! Right there and painfully, too. it was terrible. I guess that I should always look at my tires before leaving. But it has not been one of my habits. There are lots of shady spots- I do not know why he chose to be under my car of all places. But I ran over him and he is now dead. He was a feral cat who became so tame and caught mice and ground squirrels and I loved him for nearly 8 years. And so did my dog.

I know that these are accidents that happen, but all within a few days?

[Celebration]

1. so sorry Tumbulu

Sending you loving energy...............

[Sanity Claws]

2. I am so sorry for your losses

It is so hard to be a caretaker for animals. :hug:

[MorningGlow]

3. Sorry to hear that, Tumbulu

Deepest sympathies for your ewe and your kitty. It does seem that everything happens in bunches...hope things calm down soon... :hug:

[japple]

4. I am so sorry about all these things piling on you at one time. It

is hard enough to deal with them one at a time. Asking the Universe to send you comfort and ease and to give you peace as you grieve for your ewe and your kitty. :hug::hug::hug:

[BanzaiBonnie]

5. I'm sorry. Sometimes stuff like this is just too much

Loss like this is painful. Please don't blame yourself. It's all a learning experience.

[Tumbulu]

6. Thanks everyone

I so appreciate your kind and supportive words.

Now I am going to bury my kitty as I think my back is OK enough to dig in a soft place.

I am trying to focus on the good life he did have. And how to add the habit of checking tires before I turn the car on. A good habit to add.

And maybe I need to change my practice of keeping old ewes until they die of old age. Maybe it is not so humane after all.

Thanks friends,

Tumbulu

[Kind of Blue]

7. So sorry, Tumbulu.

I know that your animals knew you did the best for them and meant absolutely no harm.

[OneGrassRoot]

8. Oh goodness, I am so very, very sorry....

:cry: :cry: :cry:

Bless the babies...O8)

:hug: for you....

[I Have A Dream]

9. I'm so sorry, Tumbulu.

Thank you for doing what you did for the hurt ewe. Most people would have just ended things for her right there; you at least tried to help her. Please don't blame yourself in any way for not having 20/20 vision in reference to the food issue.

I'm glad that you have a chiropractor who could help you with your physical trauma from the exertion. I hope that you're back to full health very soon.

In reference to your sweet kitty, I'm so sorry for your loss. You were blessed to be in each others' lives, and I'm sure that he is sending you lots of love now. Hopefully his soul will show up again in your life in a new body very soon.

Much love and light to you for your sweet and caring spirit, Tumbulu. :loveya: O8)

:hug:

[bigmonkey]

10. Condolences on your losses.

Sending you light.

[Tumbulu]

11. Thanks so very much, I am grateful for your kind words

they have helped me.

[vanboggie]

12. Sorry Tumbula & yes, it can happen in a short time

Decades ago, I had a night that made me feel like I had blood on my hands like Lady MacBeth. I was traveling home from my parents' home to my apartment at the time - less than 10 miles. Barely around the corner from my folks' house, a deer smashed into the driver side of my car. I was shaken but OK, got out the passenger door and the deer was gone. The cops and my brother got there, followed the blood trail and put the deer out of its misery. It was a buck who had made it across a huge field - smashed up with a broken leg - who most likely got that far on pure adrenaline.

So deer was out of its misery, car had a crashed in door, but was driveable. I settled down from the awful experience of killing an animal (even though he hit me). I finally started home again and before reaching my destination, a little miniature collie ran out in front of me and I hit it and killed it, in front of its family no less. I love animals, and knowing that two died that night because of me was so horrible. I can't imagine your pain when the animals involved were your own. But yes, bad things can happen within not only a few days, but a couple of hours :(

Hugs! I hope all of your critters stay healthy for a long, long time.

[Tumbulu]

13. Oh my goodness, what a terrible night for you! Hugs back!

I am glad that you were able to live through it and use the experience to help me now. Thank you.

A man who used to stay at my farm watching my animals over 8 years ago when my cat was younger said that one day he started up his car and began to drive to work. He heard all this meowing and stopped and listened. He then opened the hood of the car and there was my kitty (he was really feral in those days) in the engine area. Alive and terrified. So, he got him out and he lived all this time...so I am focusing on his life now and the wonder of taming him and having his company. He was a character. He was quite fierce- he would catch two or three ground squirrels a day along with mice and rats. And ate all of the food that I gave him too, morning and evening. He was big and healthy.

[WhiteTara]

14. Heartfelt condolences for your loss.

It's hard to be so close to natural world, even though there is no life like it. :hug: