PVDR vs HDLM

The "story"  according to Wynne from Hacienda de los Milagros

The "story" according to Mark from Peaceful Valley Donkey Rescue

Courtney sent some pics she took of Jenny's foot.  Everyone seems to think it's doing just fine, but I think we'll all agree it looks like..........(fill in the blank). ..!!!

THANKS FOR THE PICTURES, COURTNEY

Hopefully with the passage of time, it will start to look more like a foot.  It doesn't seem to bother her & she walks good on it.  So I'm not going to worry about it, we'll keep it bandaged & watch it grow out. 

She is trailing her usual "band of admirers", right now it is Pancho, Simmons, & Quilla.  Simmons won't leave her until John shuts her gate, then he goes right in his pen with Pancho.  I haven't noticed her acting slutty, but they sure are being loyal.  

Last night Pepper didn't come in, John just happened to notice him down, over in Burroland in the sun.  John grabbed a couple of ropes & I got a bucket of water & a 60cc syringe.  Not knowing how long he'd been down I was afraid he'd be so dehydrated he wouldn't be able to get up.  He'd been down long enough to dig a pretty deep area with his feet trying to get up.  We flopped him over on his left side, but he didn't just pop up.  I started putting water in his mouth, doubt that it went any further than his mouth, but made me feel i was doing something.  I came over to get more water, & when I went back he was up with perky ears.  I "washed" his mouth out some more & wet hm down a little.  There was a breeze, so I figured that might cool him off.

After a few minutes he was ready to go, although his right leg he had been laying on wasn't working very good.  That knee is one of the reasons he gets down & can't get up.   He made it to his pen & ate his supper, the old buzzard.  I swear he is going to be the death of me, he's always so upbeat, I've never seen his ears anywhere else except standing up & alert & his eyes are always shiny.  We don't know what the tumor in his mouth is doing, it is so far back, Bert had to use a speculum to really see it good.  It was just a little patch of grey material fairly flat about the size of a quarter. 

Had a group of kids out to visit with the donkeys & do some grooming.  I need to find out the name of the organization, it looks like they are going to be coming out once a month.  The donkeys were thrilled to get groomed, although some of the kids had more fun combing the dogs. Of course the dogs were thrilled about that. This is the 2nd time they've been out, although except for one of the boys, Jonathan, it was all different kids.  Most of them had never seen a donkey before, so besides having fun, they also learn about donkeys.  At first some of them are afraid, but I usually let all of them go in with Gus at one time.  There is no way he would ever hurt anyone & is completely bomb proof.  After visiting with him, usually even the most timid ones, get over it.

New book listed in the sidebar under Great Reading, called Hotey.  Part of the cost of the book is donated to Peaceful Valley Donkey Rescue.  So besides being a good read, you'll also be helping a lot of donkeys.  I have no idea how many donkeys Mark has in his system, but it's 100's.  Can't imagine what his hay bill for a month adds up to........!!!! YIKES.....!!

WE DID IT..........!!!!!!!!!

Check out Morning Bray Farm's wonderful blog.  Thousands of people across the world gathered together with a goal to stop the donkey roping in Van Horn, Texas this week-end.  They sent e-mails, called & in general used all resources to stop this from happening.

According to the city, the roping has been cancelled.  The battle has been won, but the war goes on against this horrible use of donkeys.  Mark Myers at Peaceful Valley Donkey Rescue has offered to take the donkeys, but so far no word on if that will happen or not.  If they don't go into sanctuary, it's a good bet that they will stay in the donkey roping "circle" until they are used up.  

We should celebrate winning the battle. So if you could, after reading Justina's blog, send a big thank you to the good people of Van Horn.  Believe me, they got plenty of harsh judgemental messages in the last week.  We need to let them know we appreciate them taking the high road & doing the right thing.

This morning when I let Mocha & Tucker out, Boaz was waiting for her & she thought Boaz might be the answer to her "prayers".  She displayed, Boaz tried to make the "parts" work like they use to before gelding, which of course they don't, thank goodness.  All the time Tucker is braying & getting in the way.  Mocha peed, Boaz peed & here comes little Tucker, I don't think he had a clue, but he did his little bit for the cause.  Then he jumped on Mocha, fell off & started nursing.  "WHAT IS WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE"?  He's rather confused on his place in the world right now I guess..........  (G)

Won't matter after March 30th, he has a date with the vet.  We'll haul him & Mocha in for his "brain surgery", I hope it goes well.  I cringe every time one of them has to be gelded, it's such a barbaric surgery.  And he's such a little baby.  But it will be a lot easier on him at this age.

Recently Mark Myers at Peaceful Valley Donkey Rescue gelded 200 in 3 days. The Vet students from Texas A&M come to his Miles, Texas sanctuary when he has a big group to geld & learn their trade in the field with the teachers overseeing the operation.  I wonder if all 200 survived?  With that many the law of averages comes into play, especially with inexperienced students doing the work.  I hope it was a good experience for all involved.  

Heading out in the morning to pick up Gus & Quilla.  We'll feed in the morning, Lisa will let them out once she gets the pens cleaned up, & Vic & Lora will feed at the regular time in the afternoon.  Their pens are waiting for them, & we'll feed them when we get home.