A Beautiful Suffolk.

We are having a lovely January snowfall. And, it has warmed up a bit, into double digits, which will make sledding a good time this evening. The roads are slippery, making me wish my loved ones were all home, by the fire, and not off at school/work. I know the roads are bad, as I have ventured forth into the white this morning to go have a look at Dottie. Dottie is the neighborhood sheep. She started out at the Z's, one of their little lambs. Cowfeathers adopted Dottie and Fannie as young ewe lambs to take to the County Fair. Eldest and Middlest raised and showed the two successfully. Fannie's tail had been trimmed too closely as a baby, and we had problems with her rectum prolapsing. Some months after the fair, she prolapsed too badly for repair, and didn't make it. But, Dottie stayed with us, as sweet and docile a sheep that has ever lived. She loved Middlest, who loved her back. After Fannie died, Dottie would let herself out of whatever enclosure we were hoping would keep her, and come to the house, standing under Middlest's bedroom window, and bleat for her to come out and play.

Tag was the favorite game. Dottie continued to be shown by the girls, and as Middlest got interested in having Border Leicesters, Dottie was the calm and gentle welcoming committee.

 

This is just after Dolores had arrived, and was refusing to walk up the hill to the barn. Many sheep never get put on a halter and walk around next to a person, and when sheep are unsure of something, their default is to collapse. Dottie went down to the car to greet D-lo, and then encouraged her every step of the way.

I have to find a full body picture of Dottie at the time. She had recently returned to us for monitoring and recovery. See, she had been back to the Z's for a bit, she had a lot of personal engagements, if you wanted a petting-zoo type sheep in the greater Columbus area, there was no one better than Dottie. She did elementary fairs, Maple Sugar days, Christmas Nativities, she was a personality. Anyway, while she was back at the Z's, an irresponsible renting neighbor, who let their German Shepherds roam and terrorize, found Dottie alone and defenseless and attacked the poor gal. Mrs. Z came out in the morning and found her wedged into the bottom of the sheep trough feeder- like putting a head into a sock. After she was freed, they called me, because the poor kid was torn to shreds. She amazingly, had protected her jugular, ears and limbs, but her torso and back was in tatters. Because she is so trusting and gentle with people, she stood patiently, mostly, for the next 3 hours while I stitched up dozens and dozens of lacerations and cleaned puncture wounds. She was bruised terribly as well. So, in any case, Dottie was recovering, miraculously, but looked a wreck.

 

 

This is Huz and Middlest, attempting to get Dolores to walk. Dottie is there for moral support, and to show her how easy walking can be. Rosie is behind Huz, and along for the ride. Yes, my parents drive around the US with sheep in the minivan. I come from determined stock.

 

After the dog attack....which, by the way, ended badly for the dogs, as they were caught in the act at the next sheep farm down the road, chewing on a ewe's leg. The dogs were shot, as was the ewe. Anyway, after the dog attack, Dottie would never breed back. So, she went into retirement. For this, she went to the S's. They have a sweet little farm down the road with the most pampered, fattest critters living undemanding, wonderful lives.

This morning it was Mrs. S. who called me to say Dottie was down and looked terrible. I put on the layers of Carhartt overalls and jackets required for a trip out of doors in the weather, and slid my way down there in my car. Next adventure on the roads will be in the truck!

I arrived looking official with a stethoscope and did a physical exam on Dottie, pronouncing her "unwell."

Poor friend is in what we call "opisthotonus". This is when the neck is flexed back, and the top of the head rests on the shoulders. They are down, and usually pushed into a corner or on a wall. I'm afraid the wonderful journey of Dottie is coming to an end.

 

 

 

A beautiful Suffolk, and sweetheart.