Today was a very hard day on the farm. My neighbor came over around 11am and told us that my Mom's Bouvier had one of my Grandpa's Alpaca's down and was chewing on it's hind leg!!! My parents and grandparents are all gone to Hawaii for a couple of weeks, so I'm in charge of the whole farm and all the animals. I called for my husband and we ran out there to see what was up. The dog was out of the pasture and the other neighbor had a hold of the alpaca. It's leg was dangling and it was bleeding like crazy. I immediately called the vet and got him on his way.
The dogs face was all bloody and he had that crazed look about him. He didn't hide or act upset in any way, when I went after him, he just sat there. I took him and locked him in my Mom's big greenhouse and brought my dogs home and put them away, then waited for the vet.
I called my Mom and Dad and they gave me the go ahead to put the dog down as we can't trust him loose around the farm anymore. It's all so weird as we raised this dog from a puppy, we owned his Mom, who just died last year from old age. We just don't understand what this dog was thinking! He was often a sad soul and when Bonnie Fogg would do readings of the horses for me, Roland would often butt in and tell her all kinds of sad things, like he was a pound puppy that we adopted and he didn't have a job and we didn't love him. If he wasn't the center of attention at all times he would go hide and pout. But for the last few months he had been doing great! He seemed happy and content. I just don't understand. It broke my heart to have to be the one to put him down, but it was something that had to be done. I told him that we loved him and that we had to do this so he wouldn't have to be chained or kenneled for the rest of his life. Roland led me over to the vet's truck and right before the vet put the needle in, Roland kissed my face. :no: It broke my heart and I was a sobbing mess. The vet was wonderful and gave me a great big hug. And so did the neighbors. What would I do without a wonderful vet and such great neighbors!! I can't help but think that this was a sort of release for Roland. I'm so sorry that he felt he had to go to this extent to get his release :no:
The alpaca will be okay, the vet thinks. He has some very damaged muscles in his hind leg and isn't standing yet, but the vet told me to let him get up and move around on his own. I am to give him antibiotics and an antibiotic spray on his leg once a day for the next week. My neighbors brought me some sawdust chips and made him a wonderful dry bed and I hauled him water. His brother is there keeping him company, so he's not alone. I moved the horses out of that pasture for awhile until the alpaca can get around better.
It's just been a very hard day. My parents won't be home until Friday of this week. They have another dog, a Scotty named Pudge that I brought over to my house so he isn't lonely. We also have a German Shepherd getting ready to have puppies, any day!! The stress around here today is so thick you could cut it with a knife. Sigh... Thanks for letting me share my sadness. It was so hard to call my Dad and tell him about it all... We cried together over the phone. What a horrible thing to have happen when he is so far away! He just felt so guilty that he couldn't be here to tell Roland that he loved him and Goodbye
The dogs face was all bloody and he had that crazed look about him. He didn't hide or act upset in any way, when I went after him, he just sat there. I took him and locked him in my Mom's big greenhouse and brought my dogs home and put them away, then waited for the vet.
I called my Mom and Dad and they gave me the go ahead to put the dog down as we can't trust him loose around the farm anymore. It's all so weird as we raised this dog from a puppy, we owned his Mom, who just died last year from old age. We just don't understand what this dog was thinking! He was often a sad soul and when Bonnie Fogg would do readings of the horses for me, Roland would often butt in and tell her all kinds of sad things, like he was a pound puppy that we adopted and he didn't have a job and we didn't love him. If he wasn't the center of attention at all times he would go hide and pout. But for the last few months he had been doing great! He seemed happy and content. I just don't understand. It broke my heart to have to be the one to put him down, but it was something that had to be done. I told him that we loved him and that we had to do this so he wouldn't have to be chained or kenneled for the rest of his life. Roland led me over to the vet's truck and right before the vet put the needle in, Roland kissed my face. :no: It broke my heart and I was a sobbing mess. The vet was wonderful and gave me a great big hug. And so did the neighbors. What would I do without a wonderful vet and such great neighbors!! I can't help but think that this was a sort of release for Roland. I'm so sorry that he felt he had to go to this extent to get his release :no:
The alpaca will be okay, the vet thinks. He has some very damaged muscles in his hind leg and isn't standing yet, but the vet told me to let him get up and move around on his own. I am to give him antibiotics and an antibiotic spray on his leg once a day for the next week. My neighbors brought me some sawdust chips and made him a wonderful dry bed and I hauled him water. His brother is there keeping him company, so he's not alone. I moved the horses out of that pasture for awhile until the alpaca can get around better.
It's just been a very hard day. My parents won't be home until Friday of this week. They have another dog, a Scotty named Pudge that I brought over to my house so he isn't lonely. We also have a German Shepherd getting ready to have puppies, any day!! The stress around here today is so thick you could cut it with a knife. Sigh... Thanks for letting me share my sadness. It was so hard to call my Dad and tell him about it all... We cried together over the phone. What a horrible thing to have happen when he is so far away! He just felt so guilty that he couldn't be here to tell Roland that he loved him and Goodbye
I hope the alpaca feels better soon, good luck and I hope the rest of your week goes smoothly.
