R. I. P. "Willie"

Will is the Dorper Ram (Black head)

Tonight we had to "put down" our dorper ram.  He has been with us 5 years and had personality galore..plus...he was the leader of the pack. Louie the cheviot is the eldest of "the boys" however he let Willie call the shots. Whatever will wanted he got, wherever willie went they all went!!(Not limited to sneaking the neighboring fence for the green grass).

Tuesday Willie went off his food, we noticed he was not urinating.  This happened to the eldest "Louie" about 3 years ago, so "we had the supplies". Confidently he was drenched each night with ammonium Chloride and given antibiotics. Up until last night he was back and forth on his food and still willing to "fight the drench". We decided last nigh to bring him to the barn; we didn't want him sick and in the cold wet weather.  He ate some last night, however this morning he was DOWN...not only down but wouldn't budge. We watched him all day, and when we went to feed his head was flat on the floor and he was shaking in discomfort. Ron and I both knew he had hit the  suffering in pain point. One more injection... and no change after 4 hours. Breathing was labored, eyes had the look of pain..

We had to make the choice; he wasn't going to die on his own heart was far too strong,  if he was going to die he wasn't giving up easily. He would have suffered through the night and the end result was going to be the same. With heavy hearts and tearful eyes..the gun shots rang...Thank god Ron knows what he is doing and Willie would suffer no longer.

Just remember when things always look of rainbows and roses, you visit, pet, work...the behind the scenes operation is not always fun and rarely rewards the hardest of hearts or the softest of hearts. Again we press on and will seek out a new boy, however it will be hard to find one that can fill these hooves.

RIP Willie...Dodge and Louie will be lost without you.