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Sunday, September 10, 2017

Poor sweet animals

Sorry it has been almost a week since my last post. Life is busy, and can sure be sad at times.

As far as my eye problem, it is improving. There are still floaters, but nowhere near as bad as they were. Vision in my right eye is clearing up too.

I hate to even talk about troubles at home with this Hurricane Irma tearing through Florida right now, destroying lives...

But, "Asa", my little black Pygmy goat is dying. In spite of all we have done, she is dying, and it is breaking my heart. 


this was Asa a few months ago, healthy with her black shiny coat.  Asa has always been sweet natured and quiet. My heart has been breaking over this for three days now. 

Also, here on Henny Penny Lane...

It was at least four days ago that Poppy mentioned hearing what sounded like an unusual bird...a very shrill crying kind of call. We decided the sound was coming from a hole in a maple tree between the back porch and the pond. The same tree where the pileated woodpecker lives, or used to live.



On our way down to check things out, a tiny little baby squirrel ran right up to Poppy. It was the sweetest thing...like, help! could you be my mama. I'm cold and hungry. There were more cries and we found another baby clinging to a tree. Now there were two!



This picture was taken by "Hope". Hope is certified by the state to care for little abandoned animals. Isn't "Hope" the perfect name for someone who takes in animals like these? Thank goodness, we found her. She took the first two baby squirrels on Friday. 

You can probably imagine how bad I hated to give up these baby squirrels. But Hope knows exactly what they need. She has formula to mix and the bottles for feeding them.

Poppy and I knew there were more babies. We could hear them crying. It has been cool and breezy today and the babies were not only hungry, they were cold too. Poppy sat in the back yard with the binoculars. Mel, he called. There is another baby coming out of the nest. I held my hands up on the tree and the baby crawled right to me. Shortly, another baby squirrel climbed out of the nest and down the tree into my hands.



I filled a plastic bottle with hot water and wrapped it in a flannel cloth. I held each of the baby squirrels until they were asleep, then tucked them into the warm blankets. Something must have killed their mother. How pitiful that these babies have waited probably four days with no food.  

I called Hope, and we met at a store in town. She now has all four baby squirrels. Thank you Hope. 

There was lots to talk about tonight, but here it is almost 9:30, so it will be for another post. Thank you for your comments and well wishes about my eye, and thank you dear Deb and Connie for checking back on my last post. That was so nice of you. 

Love,
Henny









55 comments:

  1. It's very sad that many baby animals perish in the wild. Those babies were very lucky to be saved by you'll.

    Also sorry to hear about your goat. It's a shame when we can't do anything for our animals. I faced this with my dog last year. I'm still bitter over it even though it wasn't anyone's fault.

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  2. I am glad to see this post...glad that your eyes are not worse.

    Oh, my heart aches both for your heartbreak with Asa, and also I want to hold those baby squirrels. We had one for a while...she loved Roger better than anything, except maybe apple pie...and she would try to take it right out of your mouth!

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    1. Thank you Rose. I know how you feel about those squirrels. I did not want to give them up. They really do make the cutest sweetest pets.

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  3. I'm so sorry to hear about Asa. I know you love your goats so much and it is difficult when nothing can be done to help a sick one.

    It is good to hear your eyes are a little better. I hope they continue to improve. My goodness those baby squirrels are adorable! I always said you are an angel for all the animals!

    Please take care Henny!

    Warm hugs,
    Bonnie

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    1. Thank you Bonnie. It's just so sad to see a sick animal.

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  4. I am so sorry to hear about your beautiful goat Henny. Thank goodness you and Poppy were around to save t he babies and they have gone to Hope to recover. Good to hear your eyes are a little better, long may that continue.

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    1. Thank you! Seems like lately there have been all kinds of animals around needing help.

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  5. So sorry to hear of your little goat. It is very hard to lose our dear animals. I'm glad you and Poppy could save the baby squirrels-poor little ones. How wonderful to have Hope! Sending warm thoughts and comfort your way. Oh, and i'm glad to hear that your eye is better.

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  6. those poor little bubs, glad you found them & now they have a good chance to survive
    your garden is looking wonderful (previous post)
    & so sorry to hear about your goat, that's so sad she is dying, hopefully she isn't in any pain?
    all the best for you & yours
    thanx for sharing

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    1. Thank you Selina. No, Asa was very peaceful. She was a sweety pie.

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  7. Good to hear that your eyes are doing better. Sorry to hear about your goat. I know how you are feeling...I have a dog with cancer and I don't know how much longer he has. And squirrels, I came across a baby years ago. He was such a sweetie and I took him to a wild rescue place. She fed him a bottle and put him in with another baby squirrel that she had. They curled up together and went to sleep. Sometimes we just need to step in and help our wildlife. You have such a good heart.

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    1. Thank you Cindy. I am so sorry to hear about your dog. All of us who love and have animals have to face losing them...it is so hard. Poppy and I have been through it many times. We had nine Labs once upon a time. :)

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  8. You have had quite a week Henny. I am so sorry about Asa. Such a sweet goat.
    Glad to hear your eye is improving. Thankfully you heard those poor baby squirrels!
    Take care.
    Robin

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    1. We really have! Losing Asa has been hard, but saving the baby squirrels helped me to feel a little better. Thank you.

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  9. Dearest Henny, How wonderful that your eyes are getting better! Also, those baby squirrels knew who would take care of them, isn't life amazing! They are so sweet and will get a chance at life now. I am so very sorry about your goat, I did not know the little one was sick. Life throws us a curve sometimes, but at least she had a wonderful life with you. I know any creature that lives on your little farm has a wonderful life and you should be very proud of the way you love and care for all the little creatures, you are such a blessing! Love Terry

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    1. Thank you sweet Terry. The little goat had not been sick. She was fine one day and sick the next. That's what we can't understand.

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  10. Henny, this post is so touching. I guess having and loving animals has its down side, when you have to lose them :( You have saved these squirrels lives, your goat is passing while being loved and cared for :) what a lovely job you are doing xx

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  11. I just couldn't resist stopping by to say hello after reading this post. I feel your pain with your goat. On one hand you have life is ebbing away with Asa, but it was fitting to read of your giving hope to the the squirrels (or the other way round!).
    I hope your eyesight continues to improve. All the best to you.
    Wren x

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    1. Thank you so much. Saving the squirrels helped ease the pain of losing Asa.

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  12. I am so sad to hear about Asa. Thank you for being so kind hearted. Those sweet tiny babies will now grow up to steal bird food. God bless.

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  13. I am so sad to hear about Asa. Thank you for being so kind hearted. Those sweet tiny babies will now grow up to steal bird food. God bless.

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    1. Thank you Billie. That's true! Somebody will be shooing those pesky squirrels away next summer. :)

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  14. Sooooo glad to hear from you again. I was getting ready to ask your daughter, how your eye was doing.

    Are you still doctoring for it? Do you go back to be checked? Eye things are so scary, I know. From alllllll the eye problems, which my husband has had.

    Lucky little squirrels.

    So sorry for your poor little goat.

    Since she is dying, do you have a vet put her down? Or do you just wait it out? Is she in pain?

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    1. Thank you Luna. I have another eye appointment this Friday.

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  15. Oh my I am in love!! I love my daddy's story of his pet squirrel Chippy when you all lived in Robbins. It has been forever that I thought about that. I miss hearing his stories so much. He also raised one for me when we lived in Rockingham. They are so sweet I am so happy that you rescued them. I am so sorry about your sweet goat Asa. Love you bunches !!!

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    1. Hey Vicki. I remember that pet squirrel of your dad's. I would love to have kept one of these babies. I should have done that! :) Love you too!

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  16. I've been worried about you and your eyes so happy to hear they are a bit better. I'm so sorry about your goat. It's so hard to lose the animals we love. I love the story about the baby squirrels and how lucky to have someone available who is knowledgeable to raise them. I hope you can visit them and take more pictures. I think they will be a fun handful as they grow up!

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    1. Thank you Cynthia. My eye is clearing up, slowly. I would love to have kept those squirrels. Don't you know they will be cute playing together!

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  17. I'm sorry Asa isn't doing well. That is so sad for you.

    This 'Hope' person, does she by any chance have a animal rehabilitation farm in Nova Scotia? There's a program on TV that I often watch bits of and it's about Hope and her volunteers and all the various animals they get and help, eventually releasing back into the wild.

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    1. Thank you. This is probably a different Hope. She is certified by the State of NC to care for animals. I would love to do that too. She does release them back into the wild.

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  18. Oh so sorry to hear that Asa is dying. That is so sad.
    Glad to hear that your eyes are improving. Praying that your eyesight goes back to normal.

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  19. I'm glad to hear you are improving. And, I'm so sorry to hear about your very ill goat, Asa. If you're like me, and I think you are, your heart is breaking. I hope that she can pass gently with your vet's care and that the memories you will have of her will heal your heart. Thank you for helping these tiny critters on your land. You two are big 'ol softies and I love that.

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    1. Thank you Deb. Little Asa did pass gently. Like the other grey goat, Shae, the blood work done by the vet showed nothing wrong. We think it has something to do with where we bought the goats. The man had around 98 Pygmy goats in a not very big pasture. Inbreeding was probably a problem, and looking back, I wonder if any were given any of their shots. I really don't know much about goats, but I did love these two.

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  20. diane in northern wisSeptember 11, 2017 at 6:42 PM

    Bless your heart for finding some Hope for those baby squirrels. I pray they will all survive, poor little things. Thank you and your hubby for your kind hearts. You are great people....always ready to help. Thank you.

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    1. Thank you Diane. That is such a nice compliment. Saving those little squirrels did feel great.

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  21. So sorry to hear about your sweet little goat. Our kitty suddenly declined last year and was gone so fast. We still miss her.
    I hope rescuing the squirrels has helped . It sure helped the baby squirrels!

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    1. Thank you Linda. I remember when your kitty died. It's like they are well and happy one day and down the next. It is sad.

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  22. I'm so sorry to hear about Asa. We all know full well that we'll outlive our pets, but we keep getting them anyway. So I guess it's part of the natural flow of life. I'm sure Asa has had a very happy, much-loved life with you and that's the best she could have asked for. I'm glad to hear that your eye condition is getting better. That's encouraging. And those baby squirrels! How cute they are! They're very lucky that you and Poppy were nearby to save them. I've been glued to the TV a lot since Irma hit Florida because we have loved ones who were in harm's way. Now the radar seems to show a lot of rain up towards Raleigh. I hope you don't get too much and don't get wind damage. Those strong winds cause so much trouble tearing things apart and blowing down trees and taking out power. My family near Tampa has lost electricity and didn't get it back all day today. At least they still have water as far as I know. That's better than some in Florida. I hope they don't lose all their cold food. My husband has family there too, with a well. With no electricity they can't pump their water. So many have lost so much; it's heart breaking.

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    1. Thank you Peg. You are right about that. Why do we keep getting animals? They are just so loving. I can't imagine not having an animal to love and care for. Oh gosh, I feel so sorry for all those people in Florida. So many without homes to go back to. It is heartbreaking. Being without electricity in hot humid weather is awful too. We went through that in 1996 when Hurricane Fran hit NC. We got very little from Irma. The wind was like a strong breeze and the rain, just enough to make the road muddy.

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  23. Sad that mama died, but so great that it was right by the best humanitarians to save them! Yay you and Poppy and Hope. Do you have any idea what's happening with Asa? Is it a natural flow of life or an illness? Sorry for the questions, but I'm not familiar with farm life and am interested in your little farm.

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    1. Thank you Sharon. Saving the baby squirrels helped ease the pain of losing Asa. We have no idea what was wrong. When the little grey goat, Shae, got sick and died, just like Asa, the blood work the vet did showed up nothing. I think it had something to do with where we bought the goats...but then I really know very little about goats. At least they were playful and happy here for about seven years.

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  24. So so sad with you! Losing animals hurts so very much! What a sweet goat she was, you could see her kind heart in the picture you shared. And how amazing that you rescued not 2 but 4 baby squirrels! That is amazing that you were able to get them to someone who can care for them! I've had a squirrel visiting me in the garden every day, she is hilarious to watch. I understand how hard it is with our connection to animals and when they die, it is like one of your family died! So much anguish and sorrow in our world, much prayer for them all!

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    1. Marilyn, thank you. It does hurt to lose an animal. We just get to know them and love them so much. Saving those 4 little baby squirrels did help ease the pain of losing Asa. Thank you for visiting and leaving a comment.

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  25. So sad about Asa, it is hard to see animals we love suffer near their end of times.
    Hope is a perfect name for someone who rescues animals, I hope all the squirrels make it:)

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  26. So glad to read that your eyes are better! Lucky little squirrels to have you and Poppy near by. Losing a faithful animal is a hard time. I hope you have been having cooler days there so you can enjoy being out and about! Our weather has been fantastic except for being a bit too dry.

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  27. Dear Melba,
    Just wanted you to know that I am sorry, and share your sadness about Asa. You are probably correct about the environment where they were first living having something to do with both dying mysteriously. You have been so wonderful to the creatures who live with, and around you. The little squirrels would have been a tragedy if you and Poppy had not seen and rescued them. Keep the faith, you are sort of the St. Francis of Henny Penny Lane.

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  28. Hi,
    I am praying for you Henny. I understand your sadness. My dog Molly, is 12 1/2 years old, and things are not looking good for her. She is starting to slow down as well and has good days and bad days. Sadly, more bad days.
    I am glad you and Poppy had the opportunity to rescue the squirrels.
    Carla

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  29. First time visiting your blog. Sorry to hear about your goat, and what a relief to find help for those baby squirrels. Have a wonderful weekend..

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  30. "Happy Birthday to you, Henny" (Sept. 14) We all send our love from the mouse-house. xo

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  31. Just found your blog today -- I'm a friend of PomPom's. Looks like we love many of the same things, and we have a little 4 acre farm here in NC too, on the coast though. So glad the baby squirrels were rescued! You are their hero :)

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