Animal Friends Dying. Goodbye Big Black

It's Easter morning and we have found Big Black, the goat, dead. Some of you know that Black and Red were bottle babies and have lived with us for several years now. They were 2 big babies. Red died a year ago and we were afraid that Black's grief and mourning over the death of Red would kill him. We put a goat named Helen, with her 2 boys, in with Black in hopes that he would find the will to stop mourning and enjoy life again.

Black was not without health problems. He had kidney problems and life was not easy for him. But, Helen and the kids seemed to give Black a new lease on life. We never expected Black to live this long and were overjoyed by his bouncing back. Alas, a couple of weeks ago, Helen gave birth to triplets. ! Of the triplets and Helen passed away. Blackie went into mourning and nothing could console him. He knew where Helen was buried and would go scratch and lay down where she was buried.

Black would faithfully "help" me bottle feed the surviving kid goats. Black was a lover and he always had a good word to say and a "kiss" for me. I was his "momma" in his eyes. And I must say that when I found Black this morning, I was crushed. I didn't want him to suffer anymore, but the absolute loss to me was more than I thought I could bare. I loved him so and wonder to myself what life will be like around here with no more Black, Red, Helen or my beloved Pokey (horse). They were all senior animals and had lived their entire lives with us. My sorrow has been great this year over the loss of my animal friends.

A lot of people get rid of their animals, whether or not they are friends, when they reach this very senior stage. I could never stand the thought of abandoning my animal friends to a sale barn, just when they needed me most. It never crossed my mind to send our old animal friends away.

But it's hard to watch them go downhill. It's really no different than us as we age. We get arthritic and we just don't always feel as good as we did when we were young. Our animal friends go through the same things. And just as I hope someone will watch over me and not throw me away, I watch over my beloved animal friends.

I don't talk to many people and see even fewer. I guess that's one reason I am so bonded and close to our animals. The aged friends among them are just like part of the family. We knew this year would be hard. And we were right. We have 3 more that are aged and I guess knowing that helps take some of the shock out of losing our friends.

The Bible says the lion will lay down with the Lamb. I prayerfully believe that. The gentle giants that we have had on this homestead must surely be waiting for me in heaven. My prayer is that I will be with them when I go to heaven. The time, though many years, has not been enough. My dear animal friends. Yes, they are definitely waiting for me. Maybe God chose to take Black on Easter to give me comfort and a knowledge that my animal friends are waiting for me.

Goodbye Big Black. I love ya and I weep. But I will go on and I will see you on the other side.