PETITION TO STOP DONKEY BASKETBALL IN OHIO

Please check out the petition under New Stuff on the right hand side of this blog to stop a school in Ohio from using donkey basketball as a fund raiser. 

I see nothing wrong with a donkey having a job.  But having donkeys dragged around the country to be used as entertainment for inexperienced riders that sometimes seem to weigh almost as much as the donkey, doesn't seem right. 

YUM, YUM, YUM.....!!!

One of my favorite smells in the world is tomato leaves, & one of my favorite tastes is the tomato itself.  For the last month or so I've been able to pick a few tomatoes from my "patch" for Mother.  But this morning I found three ready to pick.  Mother got one for lunch, but the other two are designated for supper tonight.....!!!!  

I've been doing a Caddy Shack type of behavior the last couple of weeks.  Who knew desert rock squirrels LOVE tomatoes.  I noticed something had taken bites out of both red & green tomatoes, hmmmm.......!!!  When I told John he said he had chased a rock squirrel off the courtyard.  Didn't know they would climb over the wall, although John did see one manage to squeeze thru the gate.  I put out pink plastic strips to fly in the breeze,  & shiny pieces of aluminum pie pans to whirl around in the wind.  Also put a sun screen fabric over the tomatoes, since it's getting so hot right now.  Not sure what if any of these "scared" them away, but haven't had any damage for the last few days.  One little monster, took a ripe one & green one, & tried to get out the gate with them.  When he couldn't figure out the logistics, he just left them up against the gate.  

I had noticed there were 2 places in the tomato patch that the tomato vines weren't going & if they did the blooms died.  One afternoon I went out & one of the outdoor cats, jumped up & took off.  Julius had been curled up in one of those spots.  Boy was I mad, at least I thought I was mad until I told John & he said "oh yes was it Hobo I saw her in there last week.............!!!!  Then I was REALLY mad, he had known for a week the cats would lay there and didn't think it was information worthy of passing on?  I told him I wanted anything he has in his garage & surrounding area that could be used as a stake.  I used up all he had & filled in the rest with sticks stuck in the ground.  You would be amazed at how quickly the vines have filled in the bare spots.......!!! LOL

Doctored the girls this morning & they were almost bored, not even using the ropes on Penny's legs, she will let me run my hands up & down her legs, no problem.  Haven't tried outside the squeeze or picking up a foot yet, but she seems to be doing really good, so far.  Well except for that spraying her legs with Alu-Shield where there is no hair & fly spray.  I had thought of trying to work with them outside the squeeze, but she threw such a hissy over the sprays, guess we'll wait until they aren't so important to her.  

John had a jeep tour yesterday, went out with a cowboy hat on, & she took off.  Most of the roping donkeys are afraid of cowboy hats, so that is another bit of information about her former life, probably.

Coquette has been shaking her ears & scratching at them.  So I dribbled some Animax down both of them.  She actually was pretty good about it.  Both of them seem willing to try to get along, although it will take a long time for me to trust Penny, I've seen her in action.

STILL DOCTORING THE GIRLS

Lysa & John, Penny in the "squeeze" & her best friend Coquette "helping"......!!!

Every morning we doctor.  Coquette has some sort of "thing" on her face.  All the hair is gone & it itches, at least she rubs it, which of course if she opens it the flies love....!!!  I found one of Cisco's old crusader masks, had to sew it back together, but it covers the lower part of her face so the flies can't get to her, even if it is open.  SHE HATES IT...!!!  Keeps shaking her head & trying to rub it off.  "Going to be a LONG summer, I guess".....!!!!  Hopefully she'll get over it soon.  

I don't know if it is fungal or bacteria or what, lice, mange, I mean there are a lot of things it could be.  They all look about alike to me unless there is habronema, they seem to be my speciality...!!! Got rid of the ones on Penny's face & in her eye & so far no new eruptions, now that she is wearing a fly mask.  Hopefully that's the end of that.....!!  The whole side of her face is bald probably from years of habronema sores all summer, but at least she doesn't have to put up with the itching now.  

They are settling down, Penny hasn't let loose with one of her "famous" kicks since Tyler was here.  When we have her in the squeeze, I desensitize her legs with a rope, nothing dramatic just wrap it around & pull it back & forth.  She's doing real good, seems to accept it.  Of course I haven't tried anything horrifying like using the rope to pick up a foot, or trying to pick one up by hand.  I also haven't tried working with her outside the squeeze, not too thrilled with the idea of her being in a position of being able to swing that loaded end around at will........!!!!  LOL

Suppose to have a group of teenagers come out next week to groom.  They are in some kind of "keep the kids entertained for the summer" program at Ft. Huachuca, down by Sierra Vista.  There will be almost enough for each one to have a donkey to groom, which will be great for the donkeys.  Most of them still have winter hair hanging on.  

Everyone else seems to be doing good right now.  Courtney is coming out this week-end to trim Gus & whoever else needs it.  Gus is the only one we have right now that needs regular trimming.  I offered to haul him to her somewhere, but she wants to look the others over to make sure they are self trimming properly. 

WHAT A DIFFERENCE A PEDICURE MAKES.......!!!

COQUETTE'S FRONT FEET WHEN WE PICKED HER UP LAST WEEK

HER FEET AFTER TYLER WAS HERE YESTERDAY

Who knew there was an actual hoof capsule in that mess. I guess her feet had kept growing taller and taller like a stovepipe, until the length of the frog in the back, pushed her forward and collapsed the front hoof wall That's what she's been walking on for a LONG long time.  

We all figured she would really be sore from the tendons in the back of her legs contracting, but she seems to be enjoying her new freedom.  I've seen her turn a foot back for a second or two when she's standing, but she hasn't offered to turn either of them back to walk...........  YIPPEE!  

  

NOT A BAD LOOKING FOOT BOTTOM, CONSIDERING

THAT'S BETTER...!!!

I

I was afraid when she came in this morning she would really be sore from the tendons in the back of her legs being stretched.  But she came in walking like she was fairly comfortable.  We had her in the squeeze this morning doing some doctoring and unfortunately everyone else was out including her buddy Penny.  She threw an absolute hissy fit, down to and including pawing the ground "hard" with both front feet.  So I think she is doing OK........!!!! 

Penny was as big a problem as we thought she would be.  She is a fear kicker, which means you don't always know what will set her off.  Well she got set off, when she saw Tyler come in with his tools and it pretty much went downhill from there.  He brought "back-up" with him, 2 strong young men.  She didn't manage to kick anyone directly, a couple of close calls.  I didn't get any pictures working on her, we were all too busy, ducking and running.......!!!   For a little girl, she can be formidable. 

Tyler, bless his heart thinks he's having fun.........!!!!  LOL

FATTY LIVER DISEASE

This is nasty reading for people, BUT, if you think "donkey", and replace doughnuts, fried chicken, and burgers, with, alfalfa, sweet feed, grains, and WAY TOO MANY treats, you have a good idea of the correlation between fatty liver disease for people and donkeys.  The difference.................people can make choices, donkeys eat what they are fed.  People need to be good caretakers of their animals, be it dogs, cats, donkeys, horses, doesn't matter.  Don't kill them with kindness, no matter how sad and hungry those big eyes look......!!!

QUILLA'S THE MAN..........!!!

Doesn't look like much of a Don Juan in this picture, but Penny seems to think he's quite the man. 

When John did round-up this morning everyone came in pretty good, except for Coquette, Quillla & Penny.  Rang the bell & mixed up mush...........still missing.  While John fed hay, I headed for Burroland to see what I could find.  I found an X-rated party going on, that's what I found.....!!! 

 I guess Coquette was the cheerleader.....!!!  Who knew Quilla was such a STUD.....!!!! LOL  Good thing I took a halter & lead with me, because they weren't the least bit interested in me or breakfast.  The girls weren't interested in being haltered, but Quilla knews the drill, & the girls followed him.  

Doctoring Penny went pretty good, although that right rear leg hasn't given up the fight yet.  She's not putting as much effort into the battle, so I like to think we are making progress.  

Her face looks real good, all dried up, although I am pretty sure there are larvae hiding in there & growing.   Unfortunately the hair will probably not grow back in most of the areas.  

Her front legs are pretty badly scarred, I'm keeping them covered with Thuja Zinc Oxide to hopefully thwart the stable flies that are really out in force right now.  

Tyler is coming out tomorrow afternoon to see what he can do with their feet.  Penny's aren't real bad, although her rears look like shovels.  Coquette is the one that really needs some work.  

 

She might have to have elongated shoes put on both front feet, that's one of the options.  We'll see what Tyler thinks is best.  She actually walks pretty good, although I would imagine her tendons are really contracted.  Hopefully they will stretch out with time.  She is a very sweet girl, only about 6 years old. 

RIP Jacko

Jacko came thru here in 2007, he had recently lost his horse buddy & was now by himself.  His owners wanted to re-home him rather than get him another companion, so we took him.  A woman had gotten in touch with me about finding a companion for her surviving donkey.  Her jenny had been attacked by a mountain lion, & although she doctored the jenny for days, one morning she was dead.  

Laura wanted another jenny, which I didn't have at the time, but decided to try a gelding.  From what she said the boys bonded very well & have enjoyed an indulgent life for the last 6 yeasrs.

Recently Laura got in touch with me, about Jacko having some health problems.  When we went to see what was going on, it was perfectly clear one of his problems was Cushing's disease, just from looking at him.  So she put him on Chasteberry to see if that would help.  

The vet also said he had a nasal tumor, which causing horrible drainage, that did clear up with a couple of round of antibiotics.  

But the worst problem & what led to him being euthanized yesterday morning was his feet.  He was probably insulin resistant, & although Laura was feeding him properly I would imagine he had developed low grade chronic laminitis, which is one of the symptoms or results of insulin resistance & Cushings.  Unless you are aware of the changes going on, donkeys are such stoic animals when they have sore feet or anything else for that matter, you'd not know it until it was quite advanced.  

Laura was told by her vet a few months ago, it was just a matter of time, & the last few days & his level of discomfort helped Laura decide what was best for him.  Unfortunately when you have animals there comes a time when you have to stop thinking of what you would want to happen, & think only what is best for them.  Been there, & hate it every time..........but it's the last gift we can give them & is part of being a good caretaker. 

Laura recently adopted Heloise from us, so Tio won't be alone again, which is a good thing.

 

PENNY WAS BETTER THIS MORNING........!!!!

 CUTIE PILE...!!!

Not by choice, I'm afraid.  John set up the corral panel squeeze, he acted as the Judas goat & she followed him in, well actually she was following the animal cracker he was offering. 

We did her face, that went well.  The front legs were just almost more than she could stand.  She almost fell on the ground she was so afraid.  My WAG (Wild Ass Guess) is she has been used for roping & they roped her front legs.  Perhaps the missing hair on her legs isn't all from stable fly damage after all.  We did a lot of touching the legs, moving down 1/2 an inch & offering a cookie.  She finally almost accepted it, to the point that I could put some Thuja Zinc Oxide on her bare legs.  She tried kicking with the hind legs a couple of times, which got her yelled at & no cookie.  Finally was time for the hind legs, not anything I was looking forward to.  

She has absolutely no problem with you touching her hind legs, she doesn't even flinch.  That's why I think the front legs have been roped, guess they never roped the rears.  Wonder if her back being hunched could be from being flipped.  I would hope not, but I guess it is possible. 

Now that may all change tomorrow, we'll see.  She seems willing to meet us half way, especially if we don't run out of cookies....!!!

I have a big problem with a couple of rock squirrels & my tomato "farm" of 4 plants on the courtyard.  They have discovered this new food source & this morning John showed me where they had hauled off 2 green tomatoes & left them outside their hole under a Christmas cactus.  Later on in the morning the tomatoes were gone, guess the little thief needed a snack.  GRRRRRR......!!!  I'm really not willing to share the bounty, although I'm not quite sure what to do about the problem.  I've hung strips of pink plastic on the trellis to flop in the breeze.  Since we found the tomatoes by his hole this morning, I would imagine the wiggly pink strips aren't much of a deterrent.  Oh! well there is a family down in St. David that have a truck farm, guess I can buy tomatoes if I have to.....!!! LOL

ALMOST A RODEO.....!!

Well, it's been an "interesting" morning so far.  Jack the mini mule came in limping on his right front, has a little swelling in the fetlock, so I would imagine he stepped wrong.  

The stable flies are out in force the last few days & are nibbling on almost everyone's front legs.  They've been busy on Jack, so he needed to be sprayed with fly spray.  EEEEEkkkkkk.....!!!!  I guess fly spray sounds like a snake or something if they haven't been sprayed before.  So put on the halter, get the lead, find something to tie him to or at least wrap the lead around, when he tries to take off for parts unknown,  If they would just stand still, it would be over in no time, but, NO, LET'S BE DRAMATIC, & throw a hissy fit.....!!!

OK, on to other fun things.  Quilla had lost a legging, John found the legging, unfortunately it had been "Wister-ized".  The little bugger had pulled & tugged on it enough to tear one side of the vel-cro completely off, although it was still stuck to the other side of the vel-cro.  The polo wraps are working out real well so far, BUT, they don't make good "toys" & they are hard to find.  

Put Thuja Zinc Oxide on Boaz & Cisco's sheaths.  Cisco's has to be smeared every morning during the summer, to provide some moisture to a very scarred part of his body.  It also keeps the flies from landing on his sheath.  If one lands he will drop to the ground & scoot until it's a bloody mess that needs to be covered with Zinc Oxide.  So it's just easier to smear it before the flies get a chance.  

I'm also keeping Underwood's Horse Medicine on Boaz's knee that won't heal & it seems to be working good.  He doesn't do well with bandages on his knee, so this seems to be keeping it covered by making a hard covering over the area.  Who knows maybe under that covering it is healing.........!!!!!  That would be really nice.  

I saved the best for last.  I've been doctoring Penny's face ever since we picked her up.  As I said before her legs are bald like  Quilla's.  Of course the stable flies appreciate the easy access, so I gathered up assorted barriers this morning, fly leggings, polo wraps, some homemade wraps I have & out we went to "fix" her.  Her face is really looking good, got it doctored with ivermectin.  

Time to work on her legs.........!!!!!   Oh! lordy, really not what she had planned this morning.  I can almost guarantee she has been a roping donkey.  She is a fear kicker with her hind legs & doesn't have a problem with rearing in the front & spinning, either before, during or after the hind leg kicking.  I gave up on putting any material on her legs quickly.  Poor John was along for the ride, at least he was way up front.  Coquette got upset & tried to join the "herd", which meant we had her to contend with too.  At least she isn't a kicker.  

I finally got her sprayed with fly spray on the front legs, but it wasn't easy.  I think I will have John set up one of our corral panel squeezes to put her in for "leg" work in the future.  We're too old to move fast enough to stay out of her way, long term.  One of us would get nailed, & I'm afraid it would be John.  He has never learned not to stand flat footed around unknown animals.  I learned that at an early age by experience...!!!! LOL

PVDR vs HDLM

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

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