This is what a healthy sheep should look like. Bright eyed, nicely rounded, inquisitive and in this ones case extremely friendly.
Now this on the other hand is a poorly sheep in every sense of the word.
She was found by Alan two weeks ago wandering on the road, he wondered why all the traffic was slowing right down so he walked down to the edge of our driveway and spotted this sorry sight. She meekly followed him up the drive and into the paddock where the other sheep were quick to let her know to keep away from them. She got stuck into eating the grass immediately and settled down.
We had an idea who she belonged to, but first Alan phoned Will who has his sheep in our field to make sure it was okay for her to mingle with them.
He came round within 10 minutes and gave her a good look over. She has been badly shorn after a severe case of fly-strike, but Will said he could see she had been treated for it and that he was happy for her to stay in the same field as his girls.
He confirmed whose sheep she was, so next we gave the owner a ring. He said he would be round as soon as possible to pick her up. That was two weeks ago!! These photos were taken after she had been on our good grazing for a week, so I'm sure you can imagine how bad she looked prior to this.
We've sprayed her a few times with antiseptic spray over the open wound as recommended by the vet, but she's still not healing well as she nibbles at the scabs as soon as they form, so we are waiting to hear back from the vet about any other treatment she might need.
In the meantime Suky is getting very peeved that this sheep will not make friends with her.
She's tried standing as close as she can, tucking into grass to prove that she can eat as much grass as any sheep and even tried to give her a Pug kiss, nose to nose ..... but the sheep will have none of it, although she has stopped walking off as soon as Suky walks over, which is enough to give a little Pug a vestige of hope :-)
Sue xx
Glad you have taken her in, do sheep not have ear tags like cattle so they can be traced?
ReplyDeleteShe seems to have lost all hers, she has the holes in her ears where they were :-( But we know the owner.
Deleteohhh the poor thing, how could anyone let an animal get so malnourished? that's just wicked; well anyway she looks happy there grazing all your lovely greenery.
ReplyDeletekeep trying Suki, such a funny pug
thanx for sharing
The farmer in question lets his sheep virtually wander at will, doesn't care if their fields actually have good fencing or working gates and is very well known in the area for his lack of animal care. He also once owned a certain little Jack Russell, and treated her with the same lack of consideration :-(
DeleteAh Suky the sheep pug, I do hope once the lovely poorly sheep is feeling a bit better she will find time to play with Suky! Well done you guys and your neighbouring sheep's owner for taking the time to look after her. x
ReplyDeleteIt shows the difference in farmers in a small location, one rushes to tend his (or other peoples) sheep at the drop of a hat, knows them inside out and really cares, the other lets his wander willy nilly through fields and onto open roads ... and has done for years.
DeletePoor creature. I'm glad she is being well looked after for now anyway.
ReplyDeleteJ x
The longer she stays here the happier I will be.
DeleteI hope it is for ever.
DeleteIt seems to me, judging from how he treats his animals, that the owner no longer has ownership rights. Poor thing. She needs a good home.
ReplyDeleteThat sheep looks awful. It seems to me she is better off with you.
ReplyDeleteI hope he doesn't come to take her away poor thing he should be struck off or whatever it is you would do to a farmer!
ReplyDeleteI am not a violent person but it makes my blood boil when I see an animal not looked after, or worse, outright mistreated. Can nothing be done about this farmer, if his animals are wandering or not looked after properly? At least this poor stray is getting treated well. Suki is a sweet thing, by the way. When you say "a certain Jack Russell" above, does that mean ...?
ReplyDeleteSorry, I misspelled Suky's name. Will not happen again :)
DeleteWould the local police get involved? You wonder how anyone could treat an animal like that and then you remember how some treat children. Makes me sick. I hope she stays with you. You are a kind heart. Cheryl
ReplyDeletePoor sheep, two weeks? Not in any hurry then😂. Give him a bill for bed and board if he ever turns up.
ReplyDelete