Anita Culp P.O.Box535 Snelling, CA. 95369

209-563-6444

Grieving of the Animals

 With all of my many animals, I have had my share of departed souls.  It is never easy and I have had my share of tears and sorrow, as all of us have.  One thing I have noticed is that we all have too mourn, it does eventually get better.  After the loss of my beloved Pennie I never thought I would be able to mention her name without crying and I still have people ask me if she just passed because I am still very emotional.  Yes I am having a very hard time writing this. 

Equine Friends

I have found that animals also need there time.  I was unfortunate enough 2 years ago too lose a foal, he was stillborn.  The mare, a very good broodmare and mother, went into labor and the foal presented wrong.  For those of you that are not familiar with horses, a foal can only come out one way, 2 front feet and a nose.   By the time she and I had worked the baby into position it was too late.  I tried ‘mouth to snout’, lifting him up too drain fluid, ext. he did not make it.  We were both in shock.  The mare that was normally up softly calling to her baby just laid there, I thought she had pasted on also.  She knew her baby was gone.  She finally did get up and softly called and stood over him, she caressed, softly muzzling and occasionally licking him.  If a horse could’ve shed tears that baby would’ve never dried.  She did not try to revive him; she just stayed over him with her head only inches above his tiny body.  I left him with her for 5 days, I know it seems like a long time too most people but it was a judgment call and she was not ready to give him up before then.  I have always listened to my animals and played it by ear.  She would’ve gone through any fence had if I tried too take him away any earlier.  Even the other mares of the herd were morning.  Normally when a foal is delivered the rest of the herd is very much exited and tries to get a glimpse of the new arrival.  This time they approached as quietly as possible with there heads lowered and did not press the mare to turn them away, they knew she needed her time.  The mare is pregnant again and happy.  It was a fluke and hopefully will not happen again.

Feathered Friends

I used to have an aviary filed with about 200 breeding parakeets and cockatiel.  Needless to say I had lost my share of them over 12 years of breeding them.  It is said that if a bird losses its mate that it will not pair with any other bird. I learned early on that if you leave a desiced bird in the avery that the whole fight of birds morn the loss, they normally let the mate have his/her time and then they all take turns at fling down and saying ‘good-by’. I found that that any bird that got too morn over the loss of there partner all went on too pick another mate and go on too successfully raise babies.  A footnote to the birds is that upon the birth of babies, (especially the first ones of the season) all of the other birds have to fly down too the opening and look at the new additions, you can tell they are excited about life.                

Unfortunately I have also had to do the same thing with a couple of dogs also. Even though it may be very difficult, it works out better for everyone if all critters, people included too go through this very important part of the cycle of life.

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