A Tail Of Two Rennys

When I first saw Renny, lying in the back of a pickup truck, I have to admit I wasn't sure the Right Thing had been done. The extent of her injuries, the permeating smell of infection, her coat covered thick with burs and dried sludge was just overwhelming. I remember calling Tim in tears on the way out of the animal shelter thinking I was just going to drive her to the vet and Do The Right Thing.

Dr. Baron met us out at the car in a cold, misting rain and agreed that maybe the Right Thing had not been done. However, as Renny hadn't given up, we decided we wouldn't either and she started cleaning on her, scrubbing and cutting away horrid necrotic tissue that even saying something horrible like "horrid necrotic tissue" doesn't come close to describing. We were there for about two hours. She'd work awhile, go in to see appointments, come back out.

Dr. Cleveland and Lou Ann returned from a farm call just as she was finishing up. Lou Ann had seen the story on the news as well and was also touched by the story. I think she took one look at her and then me and knew I was overwhelmed and offered to come out the next evening to help me with the first at-home treatment. It was one of the nicest gifts I've ever been given. She made numerous trips out to help and she and Dr. Baron even came out on Thanksgiving Day.

So many people made Renny's care possible. Saved her life. The first responders, animal control, humane society, vets, techs, Saint Tim, friends from all over and most responsible, Renny herself. She is truly a sheep of character and I know we have all been blessed.

Much of Renny's hair was falling out on its own, but what was left was either caked with mud or filled with burs. Not only was this an infection worry, but surely uncomfortable for her as well and made catching her to doctor on her a painful chore. A nice couple came out and sheared her as best they could to clean her up and I bagged everything up and tossed it in the garbage.

It sat there for a few days and Renny started showing signs of improvement and I wondered if there was any way to salvage anything of her fleece to make some thank you gifts. I didn't have much hope for the mud washing out (and it didn't), but knew that while the fleece was still wet after washing, the burs would be easier to remove (and they were).



For Dr. Baron and Lou Ann.





Squeamish Alert...

This next picture was taken a couple days ago. I outlined where it started size-wise and if you know where to look (I'm not going go into that much detail) you can see some bumps where severed muscles and tendons and even an exposed vein have healed over. I am still just amazed.



I don't think Renny ever had a doubt.