Meet Rory's new friend, Walter (lamb!)

[rory]

Four weeks ago there were some pretty devastating fires nearby. Not many homes were damaged, but a LOT of sheep were severely burned. The vet school's Veterinary Emergency Response Team has been going out regularly to treat these sheep. So far they have lost almost 900... Really awful. Yesterday I went out and helped. They had to euthanize quite a few that were near term, so we did terminal c-sections to try to save the lambs. A feww made it, including one of the twins that I delivered - Walter. I'm fostering him for a few days. Not sure what will happen later, as his mom was euthanized. :(
Rory desperately wanted to meet him but I kept him separated at first. I let them meet this morning and they played and had fun together. So cute!! Here are some pics:

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y50/ekbarker/Walter0042.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y50/ekbarker/P10101342.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y50/ekbarker/P10101362.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y50/ekbarker/P10101412.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y50/ekbarker/P10101452.jpg


You can read more about the efforts to help these sheep here:
http://www.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/whatsnew/article.cfm?id=1664
http://www.vmth.ucdavis.edu/home/VERT/VERT/zamora.html


Story and video here from several weeks ago: http://www.news10.net/storyfull2.aspx?storyid=20261

And a more recent article:
http://www.californiaaggie.com/media/storage/paper981/news/2006/10/09/CityNews/Fires.In.Yolo.County.Hills.Devastate.Livestock.Far ms-2339123-page2.shtml?norewrite200610221806&sourcedomain=www.californiaaggie.com

[Cathy Moon]

Ohhh, he's a sweet little one. Are you bottle feeding him?

[rory]

Yea, he's bottle feeding. He's crying for a bottle right now, actually...

[Cathy T]

Well, Kendall, you sure have been a busy girl haven't you?! I applaud your efforts and can only begin to grasp the devastation encountered. The pictures of the sheep who were obviously suffering burns was so sad to look at you. Thank goodness you all are able to help.

Walter is such a sweet little lamb. I do believe that is the first picture I've seen of a Cavalier and lamb. What does Rory think of him? What does he think of Rory? They look just adorable together. So sorry Walter lost his mama. Will he go back to the ranch where he was born? What happens now?

[Cathy Moon]

Kendall, I just read the articles. :( Cannot imagine dealing with a situation like this! :cry*ing: How are you and the others holding up?

[rory]

I don't know where he'll go after. I'll only keep him a few days to a weeek, I think. Until he's stable enough to go elsewhere. He'll outgrow Rory's crate pretty fast! lol.

It was really sad to put the ewes down, but it was sadder to see them in such pain. Their nerves are growing bacck and their feet hurt soo badly that they can't stand on them. They looked like rocking horses because they'll try to walk and their back feet hurt so bad that they'll hop up and do a handstand on their front feet, and then their front feet hurt so badly that they rear up on their backlegs. :( It's really awful to see. So it was sad to put them down, but at least they weren't suffering anymore... :(

[Cathy Moon]

I'm so sorry for them and so sorry for you and the group. What a nightmare to live through.

I am grateful to all of you for alleviating the suffering there. And for caring for these little orphans. I'm sure many think of you as angels of mercy there. :flwr:

[Remali]

Oh that is so sad so many sheep lost their lives, how awful. But so wonderful that others were saved, the lamb is adorable, I love the photos!!