Remembering Augusta-all good donkeys go to heaven!

From the first day I met Augusta in December 2009 she had stolen my heart. She was a very pretty tall dark brown standard donkey. She was so curious and had to check everything out that was going on in the barnyard. I remember in the winter when I was doing my chores in the barn lane, she would always come and of course I would stop and pet her or rub her ears, which made her very relaxed and she would just lean with all her weight against me, making me loose footing plenty of times.  She had the softest forelock and I just loved running my hand through it. When I leaned against her to put my arms around her neck she would put her head on my shoulder and just rub against my face. I loved her Donkey hugs. She didn't really like it too much being brushed, or maybe I should say only liked certain spots to be brushed. When I brushed her she would always start walking away till her butt was right in front of me and if I brushed it, she would stand still forever, but as soon as I went forward on her body again she would do the same thing again, walk away till the brush was at her butt. Sometimes she would scare me, because I would be standing there and she would just back up into me, now normally when a donkey backs up to you, it's not really a good sign, but all she wanted was a butt scratch. I used to stand in front of her, with my hands under her mask and massage both her cheeks and she just totally loved that. I did that yesterday with her too as I was sitting with her in the sand pit.

Every time I went to the DSC I would always notice right away when she wasn't there and was on  one of her many visits to the hospital, it was so empty there without her. I will miss that sweet face so very much. What a brave little sweetheart she was.  Rest in peace my sweet Augusta.

   Augusta in Halfway Haven

          "Did somebody say my name?"                                                        

The final good-bye with Augusta

What a sweet donkey!

After I wrote this blog I received an email earlier  this morning from the DSC to let everybody know of Augusta's passing. This afternoon I received another email from Kim herself telling me about Augusta this morning, she really was sent off to the better place with lots of love and care, and I know there were plenty of tears for her. Her former owner, with whom she had lived for five years before coming to the DSC, until circumstances didn't allow them to properly care for her extensive medical problems, came by this morning to say their good-bye. She really was a special donkey and so many cared for her so much. Kim attached a photo to the email that one of the staff took of  her yesterday afternoon. It made me cry, it's the first time really that I have seen Augusta without a mask on, she was even prettier than I already knew she was. 

                                        

Saying good-bye to Augusta

Saying good-bye is never an easy thing to do, but after seeing and spending some time with Augusta tonight I see it as a necessary step to be taken to make her better. Would I have loved to have her around many more years? Of course, after all she was only 10 years old. Augusta came in the Fall of 2009 and she had some major health issues, one being uveitis, a chronic eye condition that would eventually lead to blindness, she also had some hoof problems and some at that point not yet so much apparent neurologicial problems. Despite vigorous efforts by the vet and the staff, Augusta's eyesight started to fail very rapidly, and what was only a slight loss of eyesight in one eye, turned soon into complete blindness in that eye very quickly. Once that happened, all her neurologicial problems were getting more visible, she was constantly stumbling, which still was at first thought of being a learning process of her blindness. We had blind donkeys before, and they adjusted amazingly to their new circumstances and got around pretty well. Seems like the other animals kind of always took care of them especially. After many weeks with the vet and many tests and overnight stays at the University of Guelph Animal hospital, the tests finally came back with not giving much hope of her ever getting  better and she really went down hill fast. She was in a lot of  pain and received the highest safest amount of painkillers, the best of care and a lot of love. They were still waiting for the final test results last week when I had a discussion with Cate about the tremendous and pricey medical attention Augusta was receiving and that really no stone was left unturned to get her the best help for the best possible outcome.  The final test results were not good and the decision was made that for Augusta's sake it was time to end her suffering.
I was standing at the fence today watching the donkeys mingle with people and enjoying the sunshine, when Kim came over to speak to me, first I was a little nervous about what she wanted to see me about, but  it soon was apparent that she knew how much I cared about Augusta and she wanted to let me know in person about what is going to happen tomorrow, she didn't want me to be informed via email after the fact. She told me that if I wanted I could spend some time with Augusta after work up in Halfway Haven. After four everybody had left but with Cate's permission I could go up to Augusta and spent as much time with her as I wanted. I grabbed a handful of carrots and walked up to Halfway Haven. I haven't really seen Augusta that much in the last few weeks, because she was up in the special care and really only staff is allowed up there. She was there with one other donkey and two of the goats. Of course she smelt right away that I had carrots on me and started nipping at me, because she can't see she feels everything out with her lips and was constantly chewing on me. She ate the carrots and then I just stood there and hugged her for a while, talked to her, scratched her ears and her butt and just loved her. I made so many attempts to leave only to go back for one more donkey hug, and I just couldn't leave. She finally laid down as she was really shaky on her legs, and had trouble standing up. So I sat with her in the sand pit and petted her face and massaged her legs. She was laying there so peaceful and relaxed and I thought it would be so nice for you to just go now, I could feel her hot breath from her nostrils hitting my legs as I talked to her. I could have stayed the whole night to sit with her. Every time I said her name, her ear would just perk up, even though her head was flat on the ground. We sat there for good an hour, it was so nice just to be with her and yet so sad because I knew it was the last time I was going to see her. After a few more hugs and kisses it was time for my final good-bye to her. I told her that I loved her and that she will be in a better place, even though were she was, is a great place, and that she will be ok. I will miss that sweet donkey face so very  much. She was such a loving donkey, so full of curiosity and always there for a hug. She was the first donkey to give me a donkey hug and I just loved her affection.