Gus won't be coming home.......... I've always told people on tours that he is either the most interesting animal they ever met or the most obnoxious, it just depended on what he was doing or what he was in to at the moment. He was never boring.
I don't want to remember him as he was the last few days. I want to remember him being involved in everything going on here. His big nose was in everything and everywhere.
Last week he wasn't interested in eating which wasn't like him. The vet came out tubed him and had a hard time getting the tube to his stomach to make sure the esophagus was clear. No change Friday, tried again and decided that he needed to go to the clinic up in Gilbert. I wrote about what happened up there before we came home in Sunday's blog.
Yesterday the clinic didn't call to update, which I take as good news. This morning Dr. Holden called said he was pretty good yesterday and was crashing this morning. Copious amounts of pudding like infection out his nose, coughing and gasping rather than breathing. He was over 40 years old and the last few days were difficult days for him. So I put on my big girl pants and made the decision to let him go. Been doing this for a long time and it doesn't ever get any easier.
He was such an interesting donkey, loved people and did so many things that made your teeth clench, that you would have a fit about and then have a good story to tell. Cars with windows down were fascinating to him, once he got his big head in the window it was almost impossible to get it out.
Not long ago he got out of the driveway gate, and disappeared in the brush. We looked everywhere and didn't find him. I came home and made up some flyers to put in the neighborhood. Came home from putting them out and he was in his pen. One of the neighbor's has horses and came home from work to find a donkey visiting. He put a halter on him and was bringing Gus home with his jeep.
He's been out quite a few times. He had a tree he liked to stand under fairly close to the gate but far enough away you wouldn't think he was paying any attention to the gate. Since John broke his leg, he's a little slow on getting in and out and Gus seemed to know that.
People are commenting and sharing pictures on the rescue Facebook page, many of the pictures I've never seen before. He really touched people's lives.
He will be missed, as they all are, it's never easy to say good-bye
4 comments:
So sorry! He certainly was a character and I have enjoyed the stories about him. Those stories and memories will bring you joy and comfort.
Steph
Loved the pictures and stories of his moves. He had a good life with you. What is his story, how long did he live with you? I will miss Big Gus stories but I am glad he did not have to suffer very long. You made the right decision even if it was a hard one.
Sorry to hear about Gus. Definitely had a good life with you guys.
He was here 4 times over a period of about 15 years. One owner had a heart attack the other 3 moved out of state. He had been left at a ranch, his owners house burned and they asked to let him stay there until they got their house rebuilt. Never saw them again I guess. The rancher's wife got tired of him helping her garden and anything else and said he had to go. He thought he was a horse, didn't care for the donkeys, didn't want them around him or the people. If people were around Gus thought they were there to see him. We called him our amb"ass"ador, it was his job to entertain people when they were here, at least he seemed to think so. Watching his mind work was a lot of fun. He use to rock Suzanne's RV if he thought she was late coming out in the morning.
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