A TRIBUTE TO DEACON
For everyone connected with Happy Trails who may have known and loved Deacon.....
....we lost him yesterday (Sunday, January 22, 2006)...
Deacon was a sweet, lovable, 30 year old, black Morgan gelding. He may have been small in stature, but he had a heart as big as all outdoors. So it was only fitting that his newly adoptive mom was just like him.
First a quick history of Deacon: He originally came to Happy Trails when an equine rescue group was closing down about four or five years ago, along with two other horses that were "difficult to place". Deacon was easy to work with, patient and kind, but was never going to be ridable. An old leg injury has resulted in an enlarged front knee, making him unable to carry the weight of a person on his back. He got along simply fantastic with all other horses though, and he was eventually adopted out to a very nice home where Deacon was a buddy to another horse. When that owner encountered a personal situation where he could no longer continue caring for his farm, Deacon was again brought back to Happy Trails.
This past year, Mary Alice Cowan was put in the position of needing a buddy horse for her Standardbred mare. Deacon was a candidate, but not at the top of her list at first. Deacon was a senior citizen, though he was in excellent health. He had the right personality, was a nice smaller size to work with, and very eager to please. On the other hand, he had few teeth and needed his Purina Equine Senior grain made into a mush for meals, and he could not eat regular hay. Hay cubes were much easier to munch on for him. These were some special needs, and he was what he was — a thirty year old horse!
After giving it much thought, Mary Alice was game to try out Deacon as her mare's new friend. He settled in quite nicely, and scored brownie points with both people and his new mare friend. They became best buds. Everything was going great — he was eating well and looking just awesome — even other visitors at Mary Alice's commented about the great muscle tone Deacon had for being a senior citizen.
Over the past week Deacon occasionally had a cough, but on Sunday morning that cough brought up blood. He went down in his stall. The vet was called. As the examination went along, things took a turn for the worse. It appeared that Deacon had a blockage in his esophagus, though he had been still eating and drinking fine. Bypassing some of the details, it was finally determined that Deacon's esophagus had ruptured, and the gentle gelding needed to be euthanized then and there.
Mary Alice and I had talked earlier that morning before the vet arrived. Though we both knew in our hearts that it didn't appear to be a good situation, how do you ever prepare yourself to unexpectedly and suddenly lose your horse friend that had been doing so well? So even though this is a tribute to Deacon, I feel drawn to make this about both Deacon and Mary Alice, his owner.
What type of person does it take to adopt a horse that is older, not knowing how long he may still have with us here on this earth? What kind of person takes in a horse with special needs, one who may require some extra love and care and soaked feed and hay cubes? The answer is: one with a heart as big as Deacon's.
Mary Alice and her little equine buddy were exactly alike — both small in stature, both had a heart as big as all outdoors. These kind of people seriously need to be put up on a pedestal and given the credit they deserve. How many friends do you know that would agree to accept the emotional as well as the financial responsibility for an equine companion in their twilight years? In today's horse community with the widespread mentality of if-I-can't-use-it-I-don't-want-it-find-me-something-I-can-ride, there are rays of light for some of the rescued horses that shine through every so often — rays of sunshine like Mary Alice.
My thoughts and prayers and condolences go out to Mary Alice, but though I am sad for her loss, I am thrilled for Deacon that he had the best home an older horse could possible have asked for. He was very well cared for, and he did not die cold, lonely, malnourished, sad or unwanted. He was fat and happy, surrounded by a loving human family and two horse friends, in a warm cozy stall, in a place where he was treated with compassion and respect. And when irreparable damage was discovered in his esophagus and there was nothing further that could be done to save him or give him a good quality of life, Mary Alice made the correct though heart-wrenching decision to help Deacon cross the Rainbow Bridge peacefully and quietly and with dignity. My hat is off and over my heart now to both the horse as well his adoptive owner — may Deacon now run free with his beautiful black mane flowing in the wind along with the other Happy Trails rescued horses that have passed on before him, and may Mary Alice find healing and peace in her heart, knowing that the priceless gift of love that she so unselfishly gave to Deacon was appreciated and treasured in his heart....
A TRIBUTE TO MEMPHIS BELL
Hello Everyone,
This past March 2005, Happy Trails Farm Animal Sanctuary accepted into our Amish Horse Retirement Program a pair of older Percheron draft mares who would have been destined for the Mt. Hope auction. Jean and Bell, big, beautiful and solid black, were 22 and 23 years old, and had worked extremely hard their entire life as good, reliable plow horses for their Amish family.
To give them a new lease on life and to help them begin their new life of comfort and retirement, we added to their plain names, and the girls became known and Norma Jean and Memphis Bell.
Both mares were loved by everyone at the sanctuary, but because of their age and the physical ailments of Memphis Bell and the underweight condition of Norma Jean at the time, they were not able to work. This of course made it more difficult to place them in an adoptive home, and they spent the last six months hanging out with us here at the sanctuary.
Sadly, we lost Memphis Bell on Tuesday, and this is a tribute to honor her and her long-time companion...
They were both extremely sweet and gentle giants. From day one, Jean protected Bell. Out in the pasture, Jean would chase off other horses if she felt they were getting too close to her little (2,200 lb.) buddy. Bell was never able to raise her head very high — her weak hips and enlarged front knee made it difficult for her to move very quickly. She always had a sad and worried look in her eye, and Jean was always right next to her to watch over her. While making Bell as comfortable as we could, Jean seemed to thrive. Her coat became bright and shiny and coal black, not the dusty bluish-brown color that she arrived with. She gained weight and became stronger and healthier, and was very much the mare in charge. But Bell didn't do as well, and she began having to struggle to stand up after laying down, and her legs and tired body simply wouldn't cooperate any longer. We had tried everything we could think of during her stay at the sanctuary.
Memphis Bell had a healthy diet of senior feed, and under supervision, was up to 11 lbs. per day. She received unlimited hay, and had plenty of troughs of fresh water. She had a two acre pasture that she and Jean called their own, with a run-in shelter. This way, she wouldn't hurt herself in a stall struggling to stand. She received vegetable oil in her feed to help prevent any further damage from EPSM, the lack-of-muscle-tone disease that affect many drafts, and it also helped to add calories, promote a healthy coat, and aid in digestion. Ester C, formulated especially for equine, was given daily to help coat her stomach lining. Cosequin, with glucosamine and chondroitin, was part of her regular diet to help with joint issues, and Biotin was given to help with her hooves. Bell received relaxing equine massages and Reike therapy.
During her last week with us, Bell rallied.
Many thanks to everyone from the healing group who worked with and donated their time and talents to bring peace and comfort to Memphis Bell. The week that Bell was worked on by so many compassionate souls gave her much comfort and helped to heal her worried mind. Her eyes became bright and clear, and she rallied with good days for the entire week. She seemed calmer and more connected with everything around her.
Her good days gave her consolation and an inner peace. Over the past few days, Bell had gone quickly downhill. Her back legs and weak hips could no longer support her weight. Her "good" front leg gave out on her, making her "bad" front leg with the enlarged and injured knee bear weight that it could not. It became painfully obvious that she could no longer walk, and would struggle greatly to take only a few short and labored steps.
After helping both her and her friend, Norma Jean, come to terms with letting go, we helped Bell cross the Rainbow Bridge on Tuesday of this past week. She laid down peacefully under a beautiful shade tree with a cool breeze blowing and the sun was warm on the grass. Her friend, Norma Jean, chose to stay close by. Norma Jean walked over to be close as Bell's head began to relax under the first dose of anesthesia. Jean then quietly breathed onto Bell's face, a final good-bye to her friend, and then again backed away.
After Bell passed, Norma Jean stayed and grazed nearby for a short time. I gave her some time to adjust and to grieve. After a period of time, I went back over to the area where Bell and Jean were. Jean walked near Bell's body and whinnied a soft goodbye to her. I then asked Norma Jean if she were ready to go back to the barn with me. This sweet, understanding creature who would never walk more than a few feet away from her best friend, walked right past me and onto the gravel driveway, and turned and began to walk herself back to the barn. I had to hurry to catch up with her.
Bell was laid to rest at the pet cemetery at the back of the property at Happy Trails Farm Animal Sanctuary, and will forever be remembered with much love.
Jean has been adjusting to life without her friend with an amazing calmness. The other horses answer her when she whinnies or seems to call for Bell. Norma Jean now thrives on attention, and we have kept her surrounded with other horse friends.
Along with Norma Jean, I too have adjusted, but I still miss Bell. How is it that a barn full of horses can be so empty at the absence of just one? I believe in my heart that Bell now runs like the wind without pain, and enjoys the green pastures that are just across the Rainbow Bridge. To honor her, I will take the lessons that she taught me and cherish them in my heart, and use them to help the next horses that come through Happy Trails seeking love, understanding, compassion and care. Many thanks to everyone who helped with Memphis Bell and Norma Jean...
A TRIBUTE TO BELLA (OPRAH)
A few years ago, I personally rescued a sweet, partially blind and/or mildly mentally handicapped black lab that I had named Oprah, who I adopted out to Susie Wiley. Susie re-named her Bella, and accepted her for her limitations. Susie is the person who lives in Pa., and has also adopted my old Quarter horse mare, Camry, and the two Happy Trails Belgians, Baby Bopp and Luke.
A few days ago, Bella had a stroke, and had to be euthanized this morning. Susie, of course, is very sad at losing her "sweet Bella", as she called the dog. This is a letter that I wrote to Susie, and wanted to share it with you - many of you had known the lovey black lab while she was here at Happy Trails....
Hey there Susie,
Even though this is a very sad day for you, it is a very joyous day for Miss Bella.
She had two other extremely joyous days in her life - the first one was when I first picked her up. The stupid people who owned her had her stuck in that small fenced in area around their back porch, with overgrown weeds, nasty water, and an incredibly shitty dog house. The gate was stuck shut with overgrown weeds, and I could barely get in to do her rescue. I was told that she would bite me, and I had to attempt to put a collar on her. We were told that the breeders who realized she was blind were going to put her to sleep since she was of no use, so her present owners had "rescued" her from that....
Phuleeeeeese.....she had no intentions of biting me. I talked softly to her and convinced her that she was going with me to a good place. She got to live in a warm (though cluttered and good intentioned) house with LOTS (read, too many) of other dogs, and a weird lady (me) who attempted to make her feel wanted and happy. When she left those nasty people who made her live outside alone, she had her first joyous day!!!
After a while of living at the sanctuary, Bella met another lady who was not quite as weird though equally nice (yourself), who was interested in adopting her!!!! Bella thought, could life possibly get any better than this??? Well, it could and it did!!! One day the less-weird lady took Bella home and gave her everything she ever possibly want — Bella's second most joyous day!!!
Miss Bella went to live at the less-weird lady's house, and was completely surrounded by love and care and had a family to call her own. She even had her own dog and a kid to boot, and several horses out in the pasture!!! With soft indoor beds, lots of nutritious food and treats, plenty of attention, regular smooches and hugs, and tons of play time outdoors when she wanted it, Bella thought she had made it to heaven. As Bella made herself so completely at home with her new family, she wormed her way into their hearts. The weird lady from the sanctuary came to visit several times, and Bella assured her that all was well in her life.
Just when life couldn't possibly be more content or get any better, God decided that Bella had done all the good deeds she could possibly do here on this earth. Bella had taught many lessons to the nice-but-weird lady at the sanctuary; she had given many, many life lessons to her new and less-weird mama, Susie; she had brought mega amounts of joy to her new family; she had been a wonderful but ding-y companion to her dog friend; and had helped to develop and nurture a true friendship that had already been started between Susie and Annette and Jen. Phew! That's a lot to ask of one dog! God decided that Bella would get seriously rewarded for all these good works, and that the time we were all given to share with her during this lifetime was up. Her reward was waiting, and God whistled for her. "Come on Bella, time for even more happiness that you have now!!! And you thought you went to heaven when you hit Susie's place!!!"
So, with a promise that she will see us all again, Bella responded to God's whistle and went on home to heaven for now. And she believes that it's ok for us to be sad for a little while and miss her — she would expect nothing less!!! But she doesn't want us to hang on to the sadness, just as she didn't hang onto any hatred, anger, fear or resentment for the people who mistreated her. That is probably one of her greatest lessons to us, and we can honor her by learning from her. So through our tears, let's celebrate something very special with Bella today — her third joyous day!!!!
She will always be with you...in your heart, your mind, and through the lessons she has brought to you...to all of us. Accept the sense of calmness and peace and comfort that she is sending your way, and take it in her honor. Feel in your heart that she is truly happy, in a place where she can once again see the beautiful world that's now around her. And take the lessons that she has taught you, and learn to see with them, not so much with your eyes, but with your heart....
I am sending good and healing energy your way!!!
Much love,
The Weird Lady at the Sanctuary
