Rescued!
Jonathan >
I arrived at Bothy Field this morning and found the sheep very jittery. Looking for the cause, I found one of the older ewes jumping and kicking like a ‘bucking bronco’, with a hay net snagged and twisted around her horns. However, rather than shaking it off, she was becoming ever more tightly entangled – and frantic. Fortunately, the trailing draw-cord caught one of her hooves, she lost balance, and that was my opportunity.
We know eachother well, me and her, so once I had her leaning back against me she remained calm, quiet, still.
Once I’d freed her, I told her she could go and get breakfast with the others, but she only went a few steps away, turned and looked at me awhile : I like to think that she was expressing her thanks.
Animals know more than we give them credit. They know you are trustworthy. Always glad for a happy ending.
Poor girl! It sounds like she was already in full panic mode by the time you got there. I am sure she was grateful to get the net off of her body and head.
J > Some sheep cry for help, others struggle and get deeper and deeper into difficulty.
That wonderful face says it all. I’m sure she was thankful for your being there 🙂
J > It’s believe that sheep imprint in their memories the appearance of those (humans, sheep, dogs …) they have regular dealings with, or present particular dangers. Face, clothing/fleece characteristics, sound of voice, smell. Sheep are NOT stupid. They are more rational than we are!
I bet she was! I am convinced that animals have an emotional life, even if they can’t express themselves verbally. Even rats, which we tend to revile. One of my blogging friends told me a story about his son and his pet rat. The rat slept downstairs in an open cage, and every morning, the rat would scamper up the stairs and sit by the son’s closed bedroom door, waiting for him to get up.
J > Once animals’ basic existential needs have been met, their intelligence is free to develop a metaphysical existence. That’s how the animals known as humans have got to be where they are.
Yes.
Oh, poor girl! So glad you were there, to save her.