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Post by agilitygal on Dec 30, 2007 20:22:31 GMT -5
Sweet dreams, sweet one.
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Post by gratefulknits on Dec 30, 2007 20:29:50 GMT -5
Donna and Pam, I'm so incredibly sorry for your loss. I'm sitting here crying for Copper; like others who have posted I really felt attached to him, from across the miles. I'm so sorry for both of you. Donna, my contribution is on it's way to you; please keep it to defray the vet and other costs you incurred and will incur for Sweet Copper.
Hope
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Post by swissgrl on Dec 30, 2007 20:30:36 GMT -5
RIP sweet face!!!!
Thank you Donna for being there for him!
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Post by meadowb on Dec 30, 2007 22:09:56 GMT -5
I'm so sorry Donna. Thank you for helping him so much.
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Post by TashGaia on Dec 30, 2007 22:12:31 GMT -5
I'm so sorry...
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Post by beejoyfulmk on Dec 31, 2007 1:20:27 GMT -5
Im so sorry, rest in peace kind one!!
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Post by calypso on Dec 31, 2007 3:58:27 GMT -5
Oh Donna, I am so sorry. I've been offline and missed this until now. Thank you for everything you did for this sweet boy.
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Post by crum on Dec 31, 2007 9:35:55 GMT -5
Godspeed Copper.
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Post by afinenettle on Dec 31, 2007 10:34:14 GMT -5
I think it needs to be said that Copper basically starved to death. I am of the opinion that this is unacceptable.
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Post by paintedlady on Dec 31, 2007 11:09:44 GMT -5
Oh NOOOOOOO !! I am so very sorry. Thank you Donna for taking him in RIP Copper  |
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Post by sunlightslady on Dec 31, 2007 16:35:44 GMT -5
Thank you for giving him the care and love he deserved. I am very sorry for you. May God bless you for all you do for the needy horses out there.
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Post by rescuestoribbons on Dec 31, 2007 21:42:31 GMT -5
Thank you for trying your hardest to keep this guy going, sometimes they just dont have any energy left to fight, may he run and just be a horse up there with all the others we have lost
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Post by cutiepiepmu on Jan 2, 2008 10:25:22 GMT -5
I am so terribly sorry for your loss. It can make you feel proud though, that in the end, he had someone to love him and comfort his last moments. He left this world knowing kindness and dignity - and that is the best gift you can give to any horse.
Take care,
Sara
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Post by mowhitney on Jan 6, 2008 20:22:31 GMT -5
I'm so sorry for your loss Bless you Donna for all you do! Thank You
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Post by toeps on Jan 7, 2008 3:37:05 GMT -5
Thank you!
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Post by mykingdomforahorse on Jan 7, 2008 3:55:14 GMT -5
Run in the heavenly sun, beautiful boy, with no limitations or pain. You were loved. We'll never forget you.
Em
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Post by pamcopas on Jan 8, 2008 2:09:30 GMT -5
I think it needs to be said that Copper basically starved to death. I am of the opinion that this is unacceptable. Being the person who sought help for Copper, I have to agree that "he basically starved to death." I've read your posts and can see that you are an avid supporter of rescuing these wonderful animals. The work all of you do here is incredible. However well intentioned, the kind of statement you made is exactly why more people like me DON'T ask for help for their horses in the first place. They either do nothing, paralyzed by fear of misunderstanding or retribution, and privately watch their animal slowly suffer until it's death, or they sell them off to a kill buyer so they don't have to see the animal decline. That is what is unacceptable! Copper lost so much weight, and so quickly! Not because he was underfed, or improperly fed or neglected. Altho we found he did have some tooth issues, they were not severe enough to stop him from eating every bite of his feed. He was fed 3-4 quarts of Allegra Sr. daily, along with about 20 lbs of grass hay, and had access to acres of open grazing. He'd been regularly wormed, his feet trimmed, given weight gain products and Psyllium ... Copper developed diarrhea, and he began getting less and less nourishment from his feed - it was just running through him. He wasn't acting sick or lethargic or running a temp. The other horse at the house is extremely bossy and chased him everywhere. The other horse put Copper under stress, and being at a minimum 23-25 years old, we thought that was what may be affecting his weight loss. I kept hoping if we changed his feeding schedule, wormed him again, locked him away from the other horse, he'd start to regain. When we kept him in the stall overnight that first time, I realized that his diarrhea was bad enough he needed to get away from the other horse and get in to see a vet, to see if his problem was caused by stress or something medical. But there was no money for a vet. We live on a single income now due to my own injury & illness. Tho I am healing quickly and hope to begin looking for work soon, it wasn't going to be soon enough to help Copper. So I took a deep breath and hopefully/fearfully put an ad on Craig's List immediately looking for help. And we found it here. I know it put extra stress on Copper to move him to a new home, and a change in diet might have been difficult for him (or, it might've been helping). Whatever the case, it's my belief that an underlying medical problem, combined with age and stress that finally was too much for his system. Copper is the first horse I've had that passed, and my grief is suffocating. I never got a chance to say goodbye. I was going to see him later that week, after he'd had a chance to really settle in at Donna's. Now I have to live with my memories, and wonder if I could've done something differently given our situation that would've changed the ultimate outcome. I know I'll never know for sure. Afinenettle, I know how much you love these horses, and it's horrible to lose one. But please ... don't discourage anyone else from seeking help thru one of your members. If they don't read posts like that one, they may be able to take their fears in hand and reach out on behalf of their beloved horse! Early in my contact with Donna, she invited me to join your group and read through the posts to see what you were all about. If I'd read anything like your post, I'm afraid I might not've accepted her help. I might've tried one more thing, or given him over to unintentionally given him over to someone who resells to KB! Even though it wasn't the outcome we all wanted so badly for Copper, at least he had someone who had love, health and financial backers to get him seen and treatment started. He didn't have to go down with out a last battle, and he deserved that much and more. Please make sure you don't unintentionally lose a horse you could've made a difference to! And Copper-Top, my old friend ... I'll see you again when I get to the other side where forever lives. Until then, may you grow fat and run only when you want to! I'll always love & miss you, buddy. Pam |
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Post by mykingdomforahorse on Jan 8, 2008 2:43:08 GMT -5
I have to stick up for Afinenettle. I believe her belief is that Copper needed help sooner, and a vet. While I hear you, Pam, still, the responsibility for Copper rested upon you, as in, he was your horse. It would be untrue to say that your initial inaction did not play a part in the death of this horse.
It is the owner's responsibility *no matter what they are going through* to secure care for their animals. Nothing Afinenettle did or said had anything to do with Copper's demise. She has a right to her opinion.
I do hope you learned something from this horse's death. He gave his life to teach it to you. Make amends with yourself and with your God. In the end, that's all that really matters. And, not making the same mistake twice.
You have to remember this is a board of people who jump through hoops, sacrifice everything and fall all over themselves to save horses. The disapproval of some comes with your territory, it's the walk you have to walk and is part, imho, of you taking responsibility and learning the lesson Copper gave his life to impart to you.
Em
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Post by afinenettle on Jan 8, 2008 12:17:28 GMT -5
Thank you for your thoughtful post Pam. I respect people who are willing to communicate the difficult stuff as honestly as they know how. I have had some dark spaces to visit this winter as well. It is hard to go down into these places in ourselves. That's what poetry, music and art are for, in my Bardic tradition. Both beauty and devastation are a part of this life. To neither cling to nor flinch from either requires such balance as few of us may ever own.
You will see this dance plays out in the horse rescue community as well. There are folks whose instincts are to demonize any one with a different opinion. That leads to the Us and Them wars. This is disempowering and counter-productive.
Others project their own vulverabilities and victimhood onto the horses and then every horse is a project in rescuing themselves. They lose sight of the needs of the horse. Sometimes the horse's need is to die. Sometimes there are too many horses to take care of properly. Like now. IMO we need to call home our own personal terrors. The horses have their own angels bending low and are less fearful of casting off their mortal coil than we might think.
If we can avoid these detours and bear the beauty and the horror without avoidance - we will be a powerful creative force for a new contract with the planet and all its citizens - esp. those in our personal care.
Having said that my response to you is this. Others no doubt will disagree. Countrary to what some may assume; I DO care about this. But not enough to silence myself.
I can tell from your post that you are struggling with concepts of personal responsibility.
YOU had plenty of time to see that Copper needed a vet or help dying then and there. A rifle shot to the forehead will do it. YOU did not take either action. This horse in your care suffered horribly. He was your responsibility. His suffering is added to the dark spaces that are yours to own. WE ALL HAVE THESE, Pam. I am no different from you in this regard. I do not set myself apart. But I see the sense of hopeless disempowerment that comes from various kinds of avoidance. It bleeds into all aspects of our lives. So name it and claim it - with BOTH ruthless integrity and self-compassion.
Blessing on you.
Kate
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