A difficult Goodbye.

 

The call comes in, so many calls come in, and I want to say 'no', because we have 26 and in the winter 1/2 the volunteers of summer and Lary and I are still healing our injuries.   But this call was referred from a fellow rescue, Forever Home Donkey  (who is also full), so I start asking questions about the situation. Our donkeys are going to outlive us and we don't know what to do. My husband has Parkinson's disease which is getting worse and I am traveling six hours one-way from NM to Phoenix to Mayo for testing. We all thought I had cancer, test say no, but they can't figure out what is wrong. I am in such pain some days I can hardly function. We are in our 70's.   We love our donkeys, have had them since the mom's had babies and they were very little. They are our joy, but it is getting harder and harder to even feed them and blanket them for the cold nights here at our elevation. We don't know what to do. Is there any way you can help????? We arrive and she can't come out her pain is too great. He is so very nice and has gathered their thing for us to load in the truck. The Parkinson's is very obviously and we see a level of frailty.   Papers need to be signed so we go in the house. She is very sweet and the pain is seen as she tries hard to sign the needed papers. They have gathered all the papers they have from the years of having their donkeys. They have even saved their BLM tags and provide us with notes telling us the habits of each and their story. She hurriedly leaves to room, signing her babies away is so hard.   Then we patiently load the donkeys letting him show us how he has loaded them in the past. The donkeys know something is up and don't want to get in the trailer. His love for each of them is seen in the way he cradles their heads asking them softly to please get in the trailer. Eyes wide they tentatively get up one foot at a time, one donkey at a time. They look at all of us with trepidation. Something is happening. We get ready to drive away. "We will call you when we get home and send you pictures of them settling in." He thanks us once again for taking their beloved donkeys and giving them a home, then he opens the gate for us to drive through. As we pass we can see the heartache and tears in his eyes as his dear, sweet long ears pull out the driveway knowing they will never see them, hold them, have their lips take a treat from their hands...never feel their love again.   It is a painful goodbye and a reminder that life can and does change in the blink of an eye. Rescue is not only helping neglected and abused animals, it also doing the right thing and breaking hearts at the same time.   This morning as I write this, I know the feeling all too well of one of our beloveds being gone forever. I cannot image the emptiness of waking up an having them all gone...forever. So, we say a prayer for their hearts and their health, that the days ahead the load will be lightened and they can now focus on their personal needs. But my mind keeps seeing the sadness of him cry as we pulled through the gate.   This is the third time this year we have made a similar trip to bring horses or donkeys to the rescue to allow their older owners the chance to deal with their health issues and not worry about their beloved equines.  We worry the calls will continue and be more frequent, and hope that we will continue to have the funds to be able to help.  Your donations make the difference and allow us to say, 'Yes'.   As we head into these days of people needing help because their health declines we ask that the Lord be with us all.   Thank you as always for your support of our mission of providing loving care for equine in need.  It seems that every year a week or two before the holidays a urgent need appears.  We are blessed with your friendship and donations that allow us to say, 'yes', we can help.  YOU make such a huge difference in the lives of horses, donkeys and minis.     Wishing you the best of the holiday season!  EQUINE WELLBEING RESCUE INC 8369 Buckskin Trl Snowflake, AZ 85937 Email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser Unsubscribe Donate Now!