Many years ago now there was a book that hit the best-seller list big-time. Many criticized this book for various reasons, some of which I could understand, but I enjoyed it anyway. It wasn't that it was such a well-written book, I suppose, and normally I might have been turned off by all the hype. It was emotionally intense, however, and a quick, engaging read. The main reason it drew me, though, was that in the very beginning of the book, my eyes were drawn by a line:
"There are wizards out there."
The book was Bridges of Madison County, by Robert James Waller.
I believe in wizards. I don't think most wizards wear pointy hats and wave yew wands, and I don't even think that most wizards realize they are wizards. I do believe with all my heart that there are those who can work magic, though, and that magic comes in many forms. Some of the wizards are spirits, some are non-human animals, and some are regular people like you and me who quietly go about their day working little miracles that make big changes. Sometimes those changes are only big in a small way at first glance, but for the ones they touch, they can be life-changing.
Or life-saving.
Working in animal rescue has brought me across the paths of wizards over and over again. These are those people who work tirelessly to help fellow creatures in need, and can often take an animal at the brink of death and turn them around. It often takes a great deal of love, care, dedication, and funding to perform their magic, but it is magic nonetheless. All of the money and physical care in the world could not save some of the poor beasts I've met, without the magic and love.
One of these wizards, though I'm sure he doesn't think of himself that way, is my friend Wes.
I haven't been able to visit Northeast Llama Rescue and Barnyard Sanctuary, located around the corner at Red Maple Farm, often lately due to a personal health situation. This past Friday, I was finally able to stop in for a cuppa and a chat, and had a chance to take a look at the latest animals Wes picked up.
These sheep, and a single cow, were the topic of discussion of his most recent blog entries at http://northeastllamarescue.blogspot.com. I knew that they were in bad shape, and discovered to my sorrow that two, in fact, had passed on since he collected them.
Upon seeing the sheep and the poor cow, however, the fact that only two didn't make it is somewhat of a miracle. I strongly doubted, though I did not say so at the time, that anyone but Wes could have saved as many as survived. The ones there, though they look a decrepit sight, appeared to be eating, moving about comfortably, and on their way to recovery.
Oh, but what a mess. These poor animals had such skin problems, partly due to the parasites they had to be immediately treated for, partly due to the fact that they were on the edge of starvation, that their skin is actually sloughing off in places. The sheep are a matted mess of wool that has accumulated for several seasons, with nasty sores beneath the matts, but they are so emaciated that they cannot be shorn. The clippers would hit bone, and cut them all over. In their weakened state, that would open them up for infection. They cannot be cleaned up until they gain some weight.
The cow, a sweet Brown Swiss, is in no better shape. While all dairy cows are built with plenty of visible bone under normal circumstances, you can sink a fist in between this gal's ribs up to the wrist, and she has huge patches of hide that are dry and peeling.
As sad as I was to see them, though, I was not surprised to see the light in their eyes. They ate hungrily, though seemed content, and the lambs were playing happily. I was certain that these animals had been on the verge of death, and yet they projected an aura of hope.
They knew their rescue-ship had a wizard at the helm.
In addition to the sheep and the cow, when Wes visited the farm where they were being so badly neglected, he discovered a horse stall full of Great Pyrenees dogs. In a short time, he has managed to place all but one of these dogs into good homes. That one, a seven week old puppy he calls Harley, will be staying at Red Maple Farm.
Wizards work wonderful magic. I have seen rescue wizards save the most hopeless animals, returning them to health, to good homes, and often, in the case of wildlife, to their native environments. But even wizards need help.
While chatting with Wes, he talked about the fact that these new sheep are in dire need of pasture and browse, fresh air and space, that the current holding area can't quite provide. He had been to the farm supply store that morning and spent over $1,000 on materials to reinforce a section of his pasture, to give the sheep a space of their own from which they could not escape. The sheep are Shetland and Jacobs sheep, and smaller than any of the current animals at the farm. Thus, they can fit through the wires on the existing fence, and need containment they are unable to escape from. If I know Wes, he's already got half the fencing done, and will be wondering how to pay many of his other maintenance bills in the coming months.
Rescue wizards often put their own needs last, to make sure the animals in their care receive the best. Northeast Llama Rescue and Barnyard Sanctuary/New York Wildlife Rescue survives solely on donations, and when the donations run out, by dipping into Wes's personal expense accounts. I'm honored to be on the board of directors, and to help with paperwork and fund-raising. The center visits wildlife festivals, community events, schools, and many other fund-raising events in an effort to make ends meet.
Visitors to the website often click on that "donate" link at the bottom of the page, for which the Sanctuary is eternally grateful. Then, situations like this come up, that deliver dozens of animals at once, and the coffers go quickly dry.
If you find the urge to visit the center's website at http://www.redmaplefarm.net and click that button, dear friend, consider yourself one of the wizards.
I do.
"There are wizards out there."
The book was Bridges of Madison County, by Robert James Waller.
I believe in wizards. I don't think most wizards wear pointy hats and wave yew wands, and I don't even think that most wizards realize they are wizards. I do believe with all my heart that there are those who can work magic, though, and that magic comes in many forms. Some of the wizards are spirits, some are non-human animals, and some are regular people like you and me who quietly go about their day working little miracles that make big changes. Sometimes those changes are only big in a small way at first glance, but for the ones they touch, they can be life-changing.
Or life-saving.
Working in animal rescue has brought me across the paths of wizards over and over again. These are those people who work tirelessly to help fellow creatures in need, and can often take an animal at the brink of death and turn them around. It often takes a great deal of love, care, dedication, and funding to perform their magic, but it is magic nonetheless. All of the money and physical care in the world could not save some of the poor beasts I've met, without the magic and love.
One of these wizards, though I'm sure he doesn't think of himself that way, is my friend Wes.
I haven't been able to visit Northeast Llama Rescue and Barnyard Sanctuary, located around the corner at Red Maple Farm, often lately due to a personal health situation. This past Friday, I was finally able to stop in for a cuppa and a chat, and had a chance to take a look at the latest animals Wes picked up.
These sheep, and a single cow, were the topic of discussion of his most recent blog entries at http://northeastllamarescue.blogspot.com. I knew that they were in bad shape, and discovered to my sorrow that two, in fact, had passed on since he collected them.
Upon seeing the sheep and the poor cow, however, the fact that only two didn't make it is somewhat of a miracle. I strongly doubted, though I did not say so at the time, that anyone but Wes could have saved as many as survived. The ones there, though they look a decrepit sight, appeared to be eating, moving about comfortably, and on their way to recovery.
Oh, but what a mess. These poor animals had such skin problems, partly due to the parasites they had to be immediately treated for, partly due to the fact that they were on the edge of starvation, that their skin is actually sloughing off in places. The sheep are a matted mess of wool that has accumulated for several seasons, with nasty sores beneath the matts, but they are so emaciated that they cannot be shorn. The clippers would hit bone, and cut them all over. In their weakened state, that would open them up for infection. They cannot be cleaned up until they gain some weight.
The cow, a sweet Brown Swiss, is in no better shape. While all dairy cows are built with plenty of visible bone under normal circumstances, you can sink a fist in between this gal's ribs up to the wrist, and she has huge patches of hide that are dry and peeling.
As sad as I was to see them, though, I was not surprised to see the light in their eyes. They ate hungrily, though seemed content, and the lambs were playing happily. I was certain that these animals had been on the verge of death, and yet they projected an aura of hope.
They knew their rescue-ship had a wizard at the helm.
In addition to the sheep and the cow, when Wes visited the farm where they were being so badly neglected, he discovered a horse stall full of Great Pyrenees dogs. In a short time, he has managed to place all but one of these dogs into good homes. That one, a seven week old puppy he calls Harley, will be staying at Red Maple Farm.
Wizards work wonderful magic. I have seen rescue wizards save the most hopeless animals, returning them to health, to good homes, and often, in the case of wildlife, to their native environments. But even wizards need help.
While chatting with Wes, he talked about the fact that these new sheep are in dire need of pasture and browse, fresh air and space, that the current holding area can't quite provide. He had been to the farm supply store that morning and spent over $1,000 on materials to reinforce a section of his pasture, to give the sheep a space of their own from which they could not escape. The sheep are Shetland and Jacobs sheep, and smaller than any of the current animals at the farm. Thus, they can fit through the wires on the existing fence, and need containment they are unable to escape from. If I know Wes, he's already got half the fencing done, and will be wondering how to pay many of his other maintenance bills in the coming months.
Rescue wizards often put their own needs last, to make sure the animals in their care receive the best. Northeast Llama Rescue and Barnyard Sanctuary/New York Wildlife Rescue survives solely on donations, and when the donations run out, by dipping into Wes's personal expense accounts. I'm honored to be on the board of directors, and to help with paperwork and fund-raising. The center visits wildlife festivals, community events, schools, and many other fund-raising events in an effort to make ends meet.
Visitors to the website often click on that "donate" link at the bottom of the page, for which the Sanctuary is eternally grateful. Then, situations like this come up, that deliver dozens of animals at once, and the coffers go quickly dry.
If you find the urge to visit the center's website at http://www.redmaplefarm.net and click that button, dear friend, consider yourself one of the wizards.
I do.
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