June 9, 2015 I Kissed a Goat and I Liked It!

Last Saturday, Pam and I had a booth at Spencer Pride.  It was a beautiful day for the festival and we were excited to celebrate the third anniversary of our first meeting - Spencer Pride 2012.

Pam had the bright idea to enter Lloyd the Goat in the pet parade. Well, Lloyd was a hit.  Adults and children alike wanted to pet Lloyd and have a picture taken with the iconic goat.  Pam was so busy hobnobbing with Lloyd's public, that she almost missed the parade!  The announcer stated that the pets were to line up on the south side of the courthouse - no Lloyd.  The announcer said that the parade was to start and the pets were to take a lap around the courthouse block - no Lloyd.  I finally found the two of them on the opposite side of the courthouse talking to a woman and her alpacas!  

"Pam," I screamed, "the parade has begun!" 

She and Lloyd ran across the lawn to the south side of the courthouse to catch up with the already started parade.  Poor Lloyd was so tired out from all of his hobnobbing, that he practically had to be dragged around the block!  Lloyd was disappointed that he did not win a prize in the parade, however, he made many new friends and has promised to return to Spencer Pride next year wearing a fabulous outfit that is sure to capture the judge's attention! 

May 19, 2015 The Honk of the Horn

Nancy feeding the donkeys

The honk of the horn brings the farm animals from wherever they are to the gates of their enclosures to receive their treats.  A couple of times a week, our local grocery store (Babbs) donates outdated produce to the farm.  The goods are picked through to weed out any rotten or moldy food and then distributed to their respective connoisseurs.  The donkeys prefer the apples and carrots, the steer's favorite is cantaloupe. 

Pam enjoys the days when she takes the truckload of goodies around to each of the animals.  The animals seemingly show their appreciation by braying, clucking, and rushing to see what is being offered.  Lloyd the goat even gives kisses.  We appreciate the produce donations and the opportunity that it affords us to interact with the outdoor animals, all creatures great and small!

Nancy feeding Andy a cantaloupe

May 10 The Bad News and the Good News

May 10, 2015

This weekend we found out some sad news about the Poms.  As you all know, we took the dogs to the veterinarian last week to get their shots and to have them tested for Lyme disease and for heartworm.

The vet called us on Friday with some bad news.  Carmella has heartworm and Diamond has Lyme disease.  We thought that Carmella would be at higher risk for Lyme disease as she was covered from head to tail in ticks, but that is not the case.

They both have appointments with Dr. Farrar next Friday and Saturday to begin the treatments that they need.  Carmella will have to be kept quiet for several weeks following treatment.  This will be difficult as they are both really active dogs!  They run and chase each other as well as the cats.  They also leap from the ground into our arms. We will work hard to not get them excited.  

We appreciated all of your donations that helped with the diagnosis and will greatly appreciate any donations that can help us with the costly treatment.  All donations are tax deductible.

And now for the good news!

On a positive note, Cherigene (a licensed rehabber), Pam, and I released a few baby squirrels and opossums.

              An opossum in the roof of the shed.                     Cherigene with a good friend!

May 3, 2015 Saturday was a beautiful day to go the the vet's office!

Saturday was a beautiful day to take the Poms to our local veterinarian and have them checked out.  We loaded them up in the Subaru and headed to Town and Country Veterinary Hospital in Spencer.  The dogs were very happy to be going for a ride.  When we arrived at the veterinary hospital, they entered the building without any hesitation.  Diamond even growled and barked at two pit bull puppies like she owned the place. Thankfully, we were soon called into Dr. Farrar's office.

Denise (Dr. Farrar) thought that it would be a good idea to have blood drawn and sent to the lab to check for Lyme disease.  This was due to the fact that both dogs were covered in ticks when we picked them up.  We also felt that it would be good to test for heartworm because we didn't know if the dogs had received the preventative medication.

Carmella was first up on the table. Victoria held tightly while Denise inserted the needle into her vein.  Carmella bled a little after the blood draw, so Dr. Farrar wrapped a pink bandage around her leg. After getting her heart checked and all of her shots, Carmella happily gave up her spot on the table to Diamond.

Diamond took her turn like a trooper and the same routine was followed.  We left the office and headed back to the farm.  Hopefully everything will check out and the dogs will be free of Lyme disease and heartworms!  For now, they are happy to be home!

We want to thank Dr. Farrar and everyone who donated to help us with the care of these two loving dogs.

All in a Day's Work

April 26, 2015

Upon arriving home after a long day at school, Pam informed me that she had received a pleading call from a woman who needed help with two Pomeranians.

"Do you want to go with me to rescue these dogs?" she asked.

I was so tired that I could barely carry in the groceries.

"Maybe I will pass on this one," I replied. "I will put up the groceries while you go and get the dogs."

Pam left and picked up our two neighbors, Susie and Charlie. As soon as she pulled out,I began to have second thoughts. I called her cell phone.

"I am waiting for you in the driveway," Pam said. "Hurry up!"

The four of us headed to Gosport to search for Carmella and Diamond.

The dog's mother was living in Indianapolis and was currently unable to care for the dogs. Her husband died a couple of weeks ago and the dogs had been running loose for the past ten days with no food or water. We did not know what condition the dogs would be in or if they would even be alive.

We were lucky.  When we pulled up at the house, the mother and daughter dog team came toward us, growling and barking in an attempt to protect their home. Pam put down some dog food and they eagerly snapped it up.

Carmella was the friendlier of the two. I easily picked her up and placed her in the truck. Diamond was a little leery of us. She would come up to grab some food and then run off. Pam sat down in a chair close to the house. Diamond came and lay at her feet.

Pam nabbed her and placed her in the truck. Diamond quickly jumped out of the truck before Pam could close the door!  Pam started the whole routine over. Diamond, again, lay at her feet and gave them a tiny kiss. Pam grabbed her and climbed into the truck while holding onto the dog.

"Let's roll!" Pam said.

The four of us were excited that we were able to rescue the dogs for a woman we didn't know and had never met. The dogs seemed happy to be in the company of humans.

They were matted down to their skin, covered in ticks, and hungry. We gave them several bowls of food on the first night and made a very comfortable bed in a huge kennel.

The next day Pam and I spent several hours shaving all of the mats off .  We bathed them two times each in an attempt to get rid of the ticks. We then put Sanctuary tee shirts on them to keep them warm. They slept like babies!!

We are taking good care of Carmella and Diamond until their mom is in a position to come and get them. Until then, they have won our hearts. I think the feeling is mutual!

Susie wth Diamond and Charlie with Caarmella

Pam with Diamond

Barb with Carmella and Diamond after their baths! 

April 18 - Hoosier lives to see another day, Pam and Barb do not go to jail!

 

Hoosier - contemplating a getaway!

 What started out as a normal day at the Sanctuary, turned into a scary, event filled  fiasco.  Pam and I collected the recycling and headed out to the recycling center  and to breakfast at Chambers.  We both settled in for a nap so that we were ready to attend the Bloomington Graduation School's prom later that night.

Upon awaking, Nancy informed Pam that Hoosier, (the black sheep of the family) was lying down in the field and could not get up.  Pam called me to inform me that we were going to put Hoosier in the back of the Subaru and take him to Ken and Susan at Farmstead Veterinary  Services on the south side of Bloomington.

I backed up the Subaru and Kevin loaded the 300 pound plus sheep into the back of the car.

Hoosier  stayed down the entire trip, occasionally letting out a  bellowing baaaaaaaa! every few minutes. Pam  climbed in the back seat - singing to Hoosier in an attempt to comfort him.   This made for a relatively peaceful trip to the vet.

When we arrived at Farmstead, Ken and Susan opened the hatchback to examine Hoosier.  Ken had, earlier in the day,   put down an older mare of his.  His decision was based on the condition of the mare and the fact that it was a beautiful sunny day.  His decision seemed fitting.

The vets offered us the option of medicating Hoosier for a case of some pretty severe arthritis, or of putting him down.  Pam was stroking Hoosier's head and decided that if we took Hoosier out of the car and he couldn't walk, that we would have him put down and allow him to go to heaven.  If Hoosier could walk, then we would try medication and see if it helped.

Pam and the vets pulled Hoosier out of the back of  Subaru and onto the floor of the clinic.  Hoosier wobbled around for a few seconds and then took off running for the barn.  Ken quickly closed the gates to the highway While we chased down the sheep to put a dog leash around his neck.

Ken  laughed, "I guess Hoosier didn't want to go to heaven today!"
Hoosier was given a  shot of cortisone, a tube of medication to take daily for the next few days, and instructions to give him aspirin twice a day. Ken and I created a sling with our arms and loaded him back into the car.  Pam sat in the back seat so that she could talk to him on the way home.  We were   relieved that we didn't have to make the decision  that day to end Hoosier's life, although we were both fully aware that his time was limited .

With prom time nearing, I pulled into the CVS in Ellettsville to pick up Hoosier's aspirin.  While pulling out of the parking lot, Hoosier decides that he is done with the car ride.  With the cortisone kicking in, he stood up and tried to exit the car through the back rear window.  BAAAAAAAAAAA!  Pam was now on her knees, trying to get Hoosier to lie back down.

"He is ruining your headliner!" she screamed.      

With  Hoosier's head pushing against the top of the car, his shifting weight rocking the car from side to side, his bellowing BAAAAA, and Pam screaming in the background,  I shoved the pedal to the metal and sped for home.

With less than a mile to home, I glanced in my rearview mirror to see a police car's flashing light.

"Pam, " I said, "we are being stopped by the  police."

I pulled over and a police officer came to the window.

"Do you realize that you were going 45 mph in a 30 mph zone?" he asked.

"No, I was just trying to get this crazy sheep home from the vet." I replied.

"Officer, Barb is a good person.  You can check, she has never even gotten a speeding  ticket in her  life!" Pam yelled from the  backseat while attempting to hold her seatbelt on.

The police officer stuck his head in the window and took  a look at Hoosier.  Hoosier stared back at the officer.  BAAAAAAAAA!

"Wow!" the officer exclaimed.  "Let me see your driver's license and I will be right  back."

He checked out my license, handed it back to me, and told me to be careful  driving the sheep home.

"Thank you very much!" I said as I pulled off.

"Honey, have you ever gotten a ticket before?" Pam asked me.

We arrived at the farm, pulled a wobbly, wide eyed Hoosier from the back of the Subaru, watched him tentatively walk across the field to greet his mate then drove home to shower and headed out to the prom.

Just another day on the farm!

Hoosier and Pam - happy to be home!

  

  





                        

Sanctuary News

April 7,  2015  UPDATE

Maverick is back  in Indiana and looking for a great home.  Apparently he is able to leap tall buildings in a single bound!  He will need a  secure (very tall) fence and humans who love hounds!!

Rain rain go away!  A stormy night and Pam's bad cold saved Maverick from being operated on today.  The neuter surgery has been postponed until Thursday. I am sure that Maverick isn't looking forward to the surgery, but it will make him a better dog for it. He is excited to be going to his new home in Ohio!

Hopefully we will be able to cross the bridge on Thursday!!

Pam and Maverick sharing the love!!