PEOPLE WHO ARE VIOLENT TO ANIMALS RARELY STOP THERE!

Thursday, August 12, 2010

It's a zoo...

...not really it was just another day at the DSC farm, but oh what a day it was.
I arrived at the DSC farm by 9:15, again not really knowing where I will be...boutique or welcome centre, so just in case I got there early to then eventually spend some time in the barn to volunteer. Only staff was around, and they were oh so busy. With  new arrivals on Monday and Tuesday, that still need to be quarantined, it was getting a little bit tricky on where to put all the donkeys during Open Day. The donkeys from Halfway Haven, are there for a reason, they can't be in the main herd and they can't be out on Open Day, again for various reasons, but Halfway Haven was also a station for quarantine for one of the new donkeys (Misty another white donkey). So the donkeys that are usually up there were brought into the Garden Paddock that is usually occupied by Solo and Juno on Open Days. Windy's Paddock was used again for another quarantine paddock for the new donkey Eeyore. Eeyore is a dapple grey donkey, he looked pretty big from what I could see, he looks a little bit like a mixture of Indiana Jones with Tibet's long shaggy fur. Not really sure yet of their stories, just that Eeyore lived with cattle and had never seen a donkey before, he seemed to be very friendly and comfortable around Adam and Chantal already, so that is good. Misty I didn't even see, but then we are also not allowed to go near them yet. While staff was rearranging donkeys I stopped by in the barn for a quick visit and saw Cocoa moping around in the corner, he sure looked like he was missing his "mommy". I just gave him a quick hug and then had to get to work, as we were expecting a group for ten o'clock. I started cleaning out the yard and well there they came.....kids...kids....and more kids....woo hoo. It was really busy all of a sudden and I definitely was nowhere near being done cleaning up...oh well..... The kids were pretty good, but it was just a lot of people all at once, as there were others coming in too. A sure sign that it is too much is.... Summer going for a hideout, Summer usually loves attention. At eleven I went up to the welcome centre to take my position for the day...what? Did somebody forgot to reset the counter from Sunday? We were up to 104 people already within the first hour...oh joy! Well I talked and talked and talked  and counted and counted and counted and surveyed and surveyed and surveyed visitors, count at the end of my shift at three, was at 248....WOW! That is great for a hot sticky Wednesday! We did really great with the sales in the boutique and with the donations at the gate, seems like everybody is chipping in and eager to help, which is great to know. I spent the rest of the afternoon in the barn, while the donkeys in the main herd were out for their carrot walk, we got to hand out carrots to the donkeys on the visitors side, oh how I love doing that. Orly was all over me even once we were done, she kept checking my pant pockets as she knew that's were I pulled them out from. Smart little cookie. Panne stretched over the whole optimizer feeder to get to the other side for his carrot and well Buddy sure didn't want to be left out and made it loud and clear that he was not to be forgotten even so he had to hide out in the stall. Buddy will be on stall rest for a while, at least it's not a broken bone but more a sprain or pulled tendons, so that will take a while to heal. I promised Rose to take care of "her" boy while she is cruising across the country for a month.
And the best thing of the whole day was........well maybe I will make this it's own special entry, I think it would be deserving of all her achievements over the last few weeks...just so much...it made my heart smile.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

aww we missed you last night!!

Sharon said...

Sounds you had a really full day! How long will the new donkeys be in quarantine? Aw... poor Buddy!

Tracey said...

I love reading all about 'your' donkeys, what a fantastic job you all do. xxx

Tina said...

Tammy- I missed being there...but just needed some alone time.
Sharon-it was a busy day for sure, not exactly sure how long the new donkeys will be in quarantine, but I guess a couple of weeks for sure. Yeah Buddy is a poor little soul right now but he sure loves all the extra attention he is getting.
Tracey- Thanks, it is the most rewarding thing I have ever done in my life. And I love every moment of it.

Melodie said...

Wow! What a day!