It's been rough!

The last few weeks have been emotionally draining, with the death of three beloved donkeys and the potential of more having to leave due to severe illnesses it's been a rough go to say the least. Some death came as a shock, some came as a relief of chronic feet problems that have been managed to the highest extend to make those donkeys as comfortable and pain free as possible. Once again I must mention Chris, who really is a God send for the DSC. Wow, what a guy. His care and his drive to try new and amazing techniques and shoes to relief the pain of some of these hoof problems is just absolutely phenomenal. The tough desicions he has to make when he has to say, ok I can't do anymore, and everybody knows he has given his all, and more. I can only imagine how he feels at times, because I know he tried so hard and tried everything humanly possible. And his love for the animal is so apparent, he even comes out when he is not working on them, just to stop by and see how everybody, donkeys and humans, are doing. He really is a heck of a guy.

One thing I have to say about the volunteers and staff at the DSC, we are all very supportive of each other, I can not count the endless emails and facebook messages I have received and exchanged between my volunteer friends and staff friends, in support of each other and making sure everybody was coping alright. It's been amazing, and one thing that made everything a little more bearable. It is also been apparent how important it is that these donkeys return to their "heaven on earth" place after death, as donations from volunteers and staff will ensure that the ashes of these donkeys will be returned and scattered on the property, this comes out of our pockets, not out of the DSC funds, but it just shows you how much it means to us. A memorial stone for Paco and Chiclet will also be engraved and placed on Memorial Hill. Everybody has been just incredibly saddened and touched, especially by Paco and Chiclet. And we all find comfort in knowing that they will be together again and run and play on the other side, pain free and with joy. On Sunday we will have a memorial for all the donkey friends we have lost in the last little while out in the fields where the donkeys play, I am really looking forward to it, I know it will be hard but it will also be a place and time of comfort and love and a good start to healing by celebrating their lives and then moving forward and concentrate on the ones that are left behind. 

Well ok, this wasn't exactly the entry I had planned for today, I was going to write about my visit on Wednesday, I guess I had to get more of this off my chest than I realized. So another entry to follow soon I hope.