Dawn of a hot day with a load of worries. Pepper was moving to his retirement home and would never see Tia or the goats again. I've been planning/putting off this day for several years, but here it was...
I'd bathed him yesterday but I wanted him to feel cool in the trailer so hosed him off again. He loved it. The trailer was late and it was almost unendurably hot at Bell Canyon. Tia and the goats left first, headed to a horse show in Burbank. The goats caused pandemonium in the parking lot because they didn't want to get in the trailer. One horse had a panic attack and broke free from his handler, then chased goat Margarethe. It took six of us to get the goats loaded, and four were professionals! Pepper meanwhile was downstairs in the wash rack, neighing for Tia. He seemed especially needy today. I gave him some watermelon.
Finally the trailer arrived, and Dinah walked Pepper upstairs. He loaded well, even though he hasn't been in a trailer since the fires two years ago. He was looking out the window as it pulled out of the parking lot. I called out, "Goodbye Pepper" and he started screaming. I burst into tears.
We drove out to Moorpark, but the trailer got there first. He'd already met his roommate, Roo, (I think that's his name), and they seemed to be absolutely best friends immediately, which almost never happens. They were delighted with each other, necking, staying close in their giant pen, (at least half an acre), so different from what Pepper had been living in before. Pepper came to me when I held out some tasty watermelon, but he really wasn't even interested in me. He'd already bonded with his bud.
It was such a great relief. I think he will be really happy there. Since Dinah's leaving for college in two weeks, it's a lot of end of the road emotional adjustments for me. For a long time riding was my very favorite thing, and when Pepper was in his prime we had a lot of exciting times.
13 comments:
My heart is torn. I'm thinking about you during this time. Thank GOD for Roo!
Thanks, Linda. Harvest Moon Blues here too.
Sorry you're having to go through so much change. So happy Pepper has a wonderful new friend. It reminds me a little of the horror of sending a parent to the nursing home and being relieved when they feel at home there to some extent.
That had to be tough sending Pepper away, especially the part when he was screaming for you from the trailer. I'm glad he's happy in his new home and already has a trusted friend. Sometimes I'm jealous at how flexible animals are to changes.
thanks for your kind words. I stopped there today in 106 weather and he looked sort of spaced out but was standing in the shade near his buddy. He didn't have any bite marks. When I put carrots in his food bin the buddy was quite pushy about taking them all, so I had to go in and pull them out and hand feed Pepper. However, I think they can work that out. Horse society involves one being the boss.
Like Roo, your readers have bonded with Pepper. Tell us more as time goes on.
Trying to imagine how animals think... I wonder if somewhere in the future there will ever be a crossover, a breakthrough on that...
Pepper looked as if he were trying to put the pieces together... "missing something but I forget what..."
It used to be as soon as I said his name he'd do a Mister Ed thing. So much so that whenever we say "please pass the pepper" at home, or something with "Pepper" in it, we have to go P-eh-eh-p-p-er like the sound he makes.
Retired elephants, retired from circuses and zoos, complete with stories and elephant cam here, if you're curious....not a tourist joint, but an elephant sanctuary...
http://www.tappedintoelephants.com/asp/index.php#
tappedintoelephants.com is a wonderful site. Thanks for posting it.
I was thinking of throwing a link to the Elephant Sanctuary here too, but I see someone beat me to it. :)
Hope Pepper is doing well.
I'm going to see him tomorrow. It's still so monstrous hot here, and I may have to take Molly to the vet.
hi Sally!! i found your face like a frog video a little while ago and was really excited about it and i made a comic strip dedicated to you and also a boy i know in argentina. i remember the island of emotion and above it all from sesame street. oh yeah my site is at www.perfectstars.com and not everyone is a duck but the main characters are. your cartoons are really excellent and cheered me up when i was upset so thank you <3<3<3
Hi Jordan, That picture is great. I posted a link to your site here. I like your style!
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