Last night I realized Penny was missing at milking time. She was my very first Nigerian doe. she was a temperamental milker but this year I had finally made peace with her and she milked without complaint. I almost sold her last year because once I started realizing about Nigerians I knew she wasn't really the best quality, but by then I knew I loved her. She had already been feeding my family for a few years and I had midwifed a few deliveries for her and we were bonded. I told her was on the retirement plan.
I can't believe I didn't realize how quiet it was until I got done with her sister Annie and suddenly thought, "where the heck is Penny?" quick check of the run in stalls and she wasn't there and then I started to panic. Penny would NEVER not be in line hollering to be milked. I hiked all over the pasture (5 acres) no sign of her. By now I was pretty sure she was dead, because if she were alive she would holler.
The only possibilities were that she was stolen, or a gator got her. So I walked to the pond with dread, and there was her blue plastic chain collar floating in the pond. My husband had come down to help me search for her and he saw something across the pond and it turned out to be her remains. He would not let me see her, he said it was that bad. So I dug the hole and he got her out of the water and we buried her late last night. I cried for about two hours straight, including the whole time I was digging her grace.
I had never seen the does go near the pond, I didn't think that they would because it involved wading through the sheet flooding. But I walked down there today and I found some little goatie foot prints in the mud leading right up to the pond's edge.
I am so sad for my little girl, what a way to go. Sure wish I would have checked that pond. I just never thought they'd go down there. It will be fenced off before I let any goats back in that pasture.
I guess I am posting this story because I feel so silly crying my eyes out over a goat but she was a good little girl. She was very affectionate and I always got the warmest welcome home from her when I had been away. I did not keep any of her kids and now I am kicking myself for that too. Her twin sister Annie is wandering around calling for her today. they were like peas in a pod.
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sorry for your lose ......
Annie was the only "shortie" left but she is getting some new friends today. 3 new shorties for her to bond with. Hopefully they can team up against the "big people" (the la manchas)
You guys, thanks so much for everything everyone said. Was one of the sadder moments in my life. I am looking to keep a daughter back from Annie this year, and I am hoping to name her something in honor of Penny. Any thoughts?
Penny's registered name was LaCaDos Phantom of Midnight.
Annie's is LaCaDos Aurora of Dawn
I thought maybe Fantasma & Call her Fannie. Tribute to Penny's Phantom name but funny rhyming name for Annie's kid, thought it might get obnoxious. I can just see my and my daughter in the barn right now
"Send Annie to the milk stall!"
"Okay!"
"I wanted Annie, not Fannie!"
Oh, Juliana! I am so very, very sorry. My condolences come late because I have not been reading the group as so much of my time has been spent spending three times as long doing routine things with my arm broken, that and I have been foggy while on pain meds.
It is in no way silly to cry over your sweet little girl. Heavens, I cried over my ten-day-old doeling and give no apologies for it. I cannot imagine how difficult it will be when I lose one of my full-grown girls and hope it is over ten years in the future.
My condolences to all of you humans but, more importantly, to Annie. I am so very sorry for your loss.
Im soo sorry Juliana. I was pretty much crying while reading all about this. I know how you feel losing her. I have a VERY hard time losing animals. I can't even imagine what its gonna be like when I lose my little mare. She was givin to me when I was 2 and she was 4 months. Thats gonna be a hard one.
A year ago June 8th I lost one of my nigerian/alpine does due to kidding problems and when I found her I pulled her collar off and now it sits on my shelf as a memory of her. :( That was a pretty rough month for me.
I am REALLY sorry to hear about your loss. {HUGS}
Very nice! :)
That's such a sweet idea. Your friend must be wonderful. :)
Oh! How sweet!
Thanks again everyone for the kind words. A friend of mine had this picture made of her for me...wound up putting her collar with her little memorial charm on it by the picture on the bookshelf.
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