western australia

We earn our keep for the second day in a row

@JudyEv (328039)

Rockingham, Australia

September 19, 2022 2:27am CST

When we went to check on the fly-blown sheep that we treated yesterday, we counted the sheep. There should be 23. Counting them is always a problem – a moving feast as it were. We counted 21, 22, 21, 23 once but ended up with very definitely only 22. So I walked towards the boundary and eventually spotted four white legs sticking up in the air. It was the old sheep that I’ve also written about. She was getting fed individually but last night it seems she succumbed to her age and died. So – what to do now? We have free rein here so Vince took the tractor down the paddock and dug a hole with the bucket that is on the front. Then we put the sheep in the bucket, tipped her into the hole and filled it in. I don't feel too sad as she had very sore feet and didn't really have a quality life. Hopefully the fly-blown one will recover and we’ll now be looking for 22 sheep for the remainder of our time now.

30 people like this

27 responses

@DaddyEvil (137142)

• United States

19 Sep 22

I hope she enjoyed her life, though.

6 people like this

@JudyEv (328039)

• Rockingham, Australia

19 Sep 22

She had a very good life until she got quite so old.

5 people like this

@DaddyEvil (137142)

• United States

19 Sep 22

@JudyEv It sounds like all the sheep there are pampered.

5 people like this

@JudyEv (328039)

• Rockingham, Australia

19 Sep 22

@DaddyEvil They are indeed pampered but really they are all too fat which isn't really good for them.

5 people like this

Show more comments

@LindaOHio (160234)

• United States

19 Sep 22

Poor sheep. If she wasn't doing well, then it was for the best.

4 people like this

show previous comments

@JudyEv (328039)

• Rockingham, Australia

20 Sep 22

@LindaOHio So many people let their animals hang on because they are not brave enough to take that final kind step and put them down.

3 people like this

@JudyEv (328039)

• Rockingham, Australia

19 Sep 22

It was for the best. She had very sore feet and would step from one to the other as if they really hurt.

4 people like this

@LindaOHio (160234)

• United States

19 Sep 22

@JudyEv That breaks my heart to see an animal suffer.

3 people like this

Show more comments

@Juliaacv (49063)

• Canada

19 Sep 22

Unless you have raised animals such as you and Vince have, one may not know what to do in such a scenerio. I hope that the other sheep that you've been tending to will improve.

4 people like this

show previous comments

@Juliaacv (49063)

• Canada

19 Sep 22

@JudyEv Your knowledge of the farm animals will be of great comfort when the home owners return.

4 people like this

@JudyEv (328039)

• Rockingham, Australia

19 Sep 22

@Juliaacv We have been in touch by phone so they are up-to-date with what has happened.

4 people like this

@LadyDuck (461823)

• Switzerland

19 Sep 22

Poor old sheep, at least you took care of her during her last days of life.

4 people like this

@JudyEv (328039)

• Rockingham, Australia

19 Sep 22

She was fine yesterday but she was obviously getting towards the end of her life.

4 people like this

@LadyDuck (461823)

• Switzerland

19 Sep 22

@JudyEv At least she ended her life peacefully.

4 people like this

@wolfgirl569 (97248)

• Marion, Ohio

19 Sep 22

With the tractor for a photo I just knew it was her. Even before I seen the post about the other girl. She is free now.

4 people like this

@JudyEv (328039)

• Rockingham, Australia

20 Sep 22

I'm glad we didn't have to use spades. We had to dig it quite deep as they say the foxes dig them up if the grave is too shallow.

3 people like this

@wolfgirl569 (97248)

• Marion, Ohio

20 Sep 22

@JudyEv We have started covering with manure. That messes with the sense of smell for many predators. I buried Tee with just that when the weather broke enough here to get her done. We lost her in January. During an ice storm. Dont have the heavy equipment that would have been needed then. But that has allowed us to go with a shallower grave when we could dig also.

3 people like this

@JudyEv (328039)

• Rockingham, Australia

21 Sep 22

@wolfgirl569 That's an excellent idea. There is always a way around problems, isn't there?

3 people like this

Show more comments

@Kandae11 (53900)

•

19 Sep 22

Age affects every living thing, some may expire in a day, others well over 100 years.

3 people like this

@BarBaraPrz (45813)

• St. Catharines, Ontario

19 Sep 22

Two old dears buried today...

3 people like this

@snowy22315 (171951)

• United States

19 Sep 22

Sadly animals do get old and die just like people. At least you had the equipment there to take care of her easily enough. After all this adventure though, I bet you will be glad to go back to your peaceful little condo for awhile.

3 people like this

@JudyEv (328039)

• Rockingham, Australia

20 Sep 22

We are off to a ride on Friday then only home one day then we're off somewhere else for a week. But there shouldn't be any dramas there. Just two dogs and we don't even have to walk them if we don't want to. They each have a big run.

2 people like this

@rebelann (111547)

• El Paso, Texas

20 Sep 22

I hope she had a good and long life, apparently her owners cared enough about her to feed her separately so she did have a good life with them.

2 people like this

@JudyEv (328039)

• Rockingham, Australia

21 Sep 22

She did have a good life and was certainly looked after in her dotage.

2 people like this

@xFiacre (12561)

• Ireland

19 Sep 22

@judyev What a sight to come upon, and what an efficient way to deal with it. A bit more sensible than the spectacle we’re having to endure for the demise of a certain other grand old lady today.

3 people like this

@JudyEv (328039)

• Rockingham, Australia

19 Sep 22

We are watching the procession at the moment and have been for some hours. We're not terribly busy with other stuff today. I'm sure the Queen is sorry she is missing it.

2 people like this

Vicki, #1 Creek Girl

@1creekgirl (40772)

• United States

19 Sep 22

You all really are staying busy.

3 people like this

@JudyEv (328039)

• Rockingham, Australia

20 Sep 22

Yes, it's kept us out of mischief! lol

2 people like this

@RubyHawk (99421)

• Atlanta, Georgia

20 Sep 22

It’s sad but she lived a long life.

2 people like this

@JudyEv (328039)

• Rockingham, Australia

20 Sep 22

It is sad but really it's for the best. She wasn't very happy.

2 people like this

@RubyHawk (99421)

• Atlanta, Georgia

20 Sep 22

@JudyEv There’s no point in animals having to suffer.

2 people like this

@Beestring (13552)

• Hong Kong

19 Sep 22

I feel sorry for the sheep, but I agree that quality of life is of utmost importance.

3 people like this

@JudyEv (328039)

• Rockingham, Australia

19 Sep 22

Once they get old, then they don't have such a good life.

3 people like this

David Ryan Cashin

• Kitimat, British Columbia

20 Sep 22

RIP

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (328039)

• Rockingham, Australia

20 Sep 22

Thanks. At least it wasn't totally unexpected.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (328039)

• Rockingham, Australia

20 Sep 22

@DRCashin A bit I guess but she wasn't really a pet although she was reasonably quiet and used to people. But she was old and not very well so she didn't have much quality of life.

1 person likes this

David Ryan Cashin

• Kitimat, British Columbia

20 Sep 22

@JudyEv is she or he missed?

1 person likes this

Show more comments

@RebeccasFarm (87041)

• United States

20 Sep 22

You are great the two of you..what a great team

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (328039)

• Rockingham, Australia

20 Sep 22

Thanks. Mostly, between us, we can get things done.

1 person likes this

@FourWalls (63046)

• United States

20 Sep 22

Oh, I’m sorry she passed away. At least she had a good life and was well cared for. That’s all we can do for our animals.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (328039)

• Rockingham, Australia

20 Sep 22

That's true. She was past her use-by date, poor thing.

1 person likes this

@Fleura (29266)

• United Kingdom

23 Sep 22

That's a shame as you were taking such good care of her. And of course you never want someone else's animals to die on your watch! But it sounds like it was her time.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (328039)

• Rockingham, Australia

25 Sep 22

It was actually past her time really. She wasn't a bit well and had been poorly for quite some time.

1 person likes this

@FayeHazel (40246)

• United States

19 Sep 22

Aw that is too bad. Sounds like you and Vince handled it as best you could though

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (328039)

• Rockingham, Australia

20 Sep 22

We saved one at least and the old girl was on her last legs.

2 people like this

@FayeHazel (40246)

• United States

21 Sep 22

@JudyEv Well, at least one is ok

2 people like this

Krissttina Isobe

@oahuwriter (26778)

• United States

20 Sep 22

I see. You're working hard and so is your husband. What did the home owners say of it?

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (328039)

• Rockingham, Australia

20 Sep 22

They were very understanding. They knew the old one was due to die any time.

1 person likes this

Show more comments

@arunima25 (86091)

• Bangalore, India

20 Sep 22

May her soul rest in peace..She was pretty old and you said that her quality of life was not good. I would not feel sad in such scenario. I am sure that she is at better place.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (328039)

• Rockingham, Australia

20 Sep 22

I think so too. I felt sad that she wasn't really having a good life.

1 person likes this

@arunima25 (86091)

• Bangalore, India

26 Sep 22

@JudyEv Hmm... It's good that she is free from that and at a peaceful place

1 person likes this