Miss Lilly Dilema.. Any Answers?

Hi All,
Thank-you for all of your kind words of support and encouragement over the last few weeks and months. I have been caught up with trying to get the farm ready with the early burst of snow.. :(

Lilly is hanging in there. It has been daily a struggle to try to help her gain strength to walk lately. She gets herself up and down and still goes out short distances from the barn to graze. She is not as adventurous as she was post-op.. I'm not sure why.. She may have twisted or sprained her leg out in the pasture or gotten spooked by something other than Mrs. Wiggins. For the last 8 weeks or so her back leg, the tendons and muscles are having difficulty supporting her weight.

It has been hard to watch her trying to walk over the past few weeks. She is in great spirits. She is eating well although she has lost weight. She is getting special supplements. Her back leg that has to support her weight is just not doing what it's suppose to be doing. It gives out on her when she tries to walk. She can stand well, tall and strong. When moving however, her back leg slowly gives out and her knee touches the ground.

I had a visitor come through the farm yesterday. A local guy from down the road. He did not know Lilly's story at all and just gave her a quick glance. As he watched Lilly get up and scoot out of the barn, he said, "huh?" Then he said, "Oh, you know what you're going to have to do with that one don't you?" I looked at him and took a deep breath...

Where in the heck do I start, in trying to explain the whole story to him? So I didn't say much and said, "Well, we're still trying to help her get stronger"... He shook his head and looked to the ground..

I have been sick to my stomach ever since.. I guess I have known in my heart that this might be a possibility.. Especially since our winters are brutal here..

I really thought she would be stronger and would be getting around better by this stage in her recovery..
I feel somewhat betrayed by the University and their recommendation to amputate telling me they know of 2 other llamas that are happy and healthy..I knew going into this that there were no promises and no guarantees. I would say Lilly at this point is "surviving" but not thriving.

I am struggling personally with the thought of keeping an animal alive just to say I "saved" her.. I refuse to do that, even as a "rescuer". If I do not think an animal is living a full and happy life, I've had to make those tough decisions.. I will not prolong suffering..

I love Lilly very much. She loves to snuggle and gets scratches and rubs and will lay next to me for hours letting me scratch her everywhere... when I am with her she is happy... When she has to try to walk and graze... I wonder... How she feels.. She is definitely struggling.

I know it is hard to understand this spiritual dilemma if you've never been in it. And each situation is so different and each animal spirit is unique.. Those of you that have animals in those difficult situations know how difficult it is to have to try to transcend our bodies into the spirit of these lovely creatures. It is a different realm. A place where spirits are made to roam wild and be free. When the animal spirit is hindered by pain and suffering, it is restricted, it starts to die and leave this world.. The eyes go vacant. Even though they are still with us, warm and breathing, their spirit is moving beyond all that we know here. Some people can't see it or sense it.. Some of us can.

Lilly is still here in spirit, strong and bright eyed.. She is present.. By nature, animals don't give up. They fight until they take their last breath.. The question I have been asking myself a thousand times a day since the minute I set eyes on Lilly is, "As her human guardian, how do I really know what is really the "right" thing here?"

I am committed to helping Lilly in every way that I can..I have also promised her and all the animals I come in contact with to never ever prolong suffering or pain.

If you have suggestions please offer them.. as I don't have answers and I am hoping for some llama angles to give her a little boost of strength to be strong through the winter..

If you post on this blog, please copy it to me in an e-mail also as I don't see the comments on here unless someone tells me to look :) ckimmes@hotmail.com


This has been a wild and emotional personal journey for me, into the wonderful spirit and soul of an amazing Miss Lilly :)

Peace
Candy

Lilly is Up! Go Lilly!

Lilly has healed herself once again! She is up!
Patience, rest and relaxation and she's UP!

As you all know, after the surgery, once Lilly got her new footing she was tearing up the pasture and running around like a crazy wild llama! Then, suddenly she slowed way down and was spending most of her days resting in the barn, not walking much, and her back leg was collapsing if she tried to walk on it for more than a few steps. Over the last few weeks, she has continued to rest most of the time.

Her spirits remain bright and she has been eating the fresh alfalfa, apple, raspberry, and birch leaves I pick for her. She also has been occasionally munching on the pine branches I put in her pen.

Last night, I mowed paths through her pasture and she came out and ran around them! She seemed excited to have new, freshly mowed areas and she spent about 20 minutes out there smelling the evening breeze, munching on the edges of the paths.

Her back leg seems to be slowly getting stronger. I think Lilly may have sprained it when she was sowing her oats a few weeks back. She was wise enough to know that she had to rest it to stay out of pain and to heal it.

She has also gotten more tolerant of the pigs and the baby kittens. The baby kittens has no fear of Lilly and they now sit next to her bowl while she eats.

I haven't heard her alarm calls in several days so I guess she has even accepted the new piggy Mrs Wiggins into her pack. I know I called her alarm calls "orgling" but I have also read that the llamas orgle when mating.. so I was a little confused..
I researched orgling on-line before I labeled it that.. I know I'm confused. Lilly might be too after all that she has gone through, and who knows how long it has been since she has seen another llama..
hmmm.. maybe she did like the new spotted pig Mrs Wiggins after all..?? I know llamas sometimes "hum" when they are concerned about something new in the yard or are stressed, but the sound she made sounded like a repetitive call from a wild turkey.. I looked up a video on U-tube of llamas orgling... Well, the video I found was of llamas mating so I'm not going to link it to the blog, I'm sure you can find it yourself if you really want to see it.. but that was the sound Lilly was making!.. So.. yes, we run a funny farm here and most days, we don't know if we're coming or going, or mating or something else.. :)

okay..Candy, focus..

I want to thank everyone for your prayers and kind words of support and encouragement for Lilly. I still hope in my heart that the surgery was the right thing to do. It has been spiritually hard for me to see her struggling to walk for the last few weeks, and I guess I have re-newed hope after seeing her up and exploring last night. I think the "old" strong willed spunky Lilly is coming back!! YEA!

I want to thank Theresa Holmes, the Editor of "The Llama Letter" the newsletter for the Pennsylvania Llama and Alpaca Association. They have featured Lilly's story in their newsletter for Aug 09! http://www.plaa-net.org/

Thank-you also the the Southeast Llama Rescue Association (SELR) for featuring Lilly's story on their website! http://www.leftofcentercreative.com/index.html

and Lilly's special friend and supporter Ethel, and to all of Lilly's secret admirers!

Thank-you all!!
C

Slow Days... No New Aliens!

Hi All, it's been a few weeks since I last updated you on our famous orgling guard llama Miss Lilly.

I've been watching Lilly closely everyday, with my fingers crossed, hoping and praying that she continues to progress and that we don't have any major incidents.

A few weeks ago, I noticed that she became remarkably weaker on her hind leg. Prior to that, she was literally running around to the far corners of the pasture and I couldn't get near her!

Every time I go out to the barn now, I check for any swelling, and haven't found any in her surgical site or in her other back leg. I thought maybe she was harboring an infection from the surgery. No signs of that. There is also no signs of injury to her back leg.

I have been horribly afraid of the dreaded meningeal worm. Lilly hadn't been wormed in at least 2 years before coming to us. The owner had never wormed her and she knows the previous owner never wormed her either. Meningeal worm is something to read about if you've never heard of it. It is a horrible parasite that llamas are susceptible to, that is carried by deer ticks in this area. It attacks the meninges of their brain, causes stumbling and neurological deficits and often death if not caught quickly and treated aggressively. So far, she has been on a regular worming schedule here, but she remains at very high risk...

Okay, I'm not talking about that anymore... it's not an option for Lilly, after all that she's gone through, some stupid little parasite is not going to get her down!

I have started her back on mash supplements twice a day to give her any extra nutrients she needs. She has refused all of the selections of treats and grains I have tried, so we'll stick to the secret mash :)

I am trying to keep the barn quiet, other than the 6 pesky kittens who have just recovered from their "it" surgeries and are now free to roam through the barn! Lilly hates cats, but even when the kittens walk next to her, she doesn't spit. She just pins her ears back, which of course means nothing to the oblivious kittens! She is extremely tolerant!

I wanted to show you a video of Lilly standing and trying to walk so that you can see how she is doing. She is very alert, and knows exactly when I am coming out of the house, who's in the yard, which cat is walking through her pen and which pig is taking a mud bath!

She is holding her body weight well. The incision is completely healed.

She gets up quickly, and stands fine, when trying to walk, it is more like a hop and her back leg gets tired. She is doing a great job on her own, alternating periods of rest and activity. Hopefully in a few more weeks, she'll be up tearing around the pasture again!

Sorry about my goofy voice and commentary.. I guess I get into my own world when I'm in the barn talking to the critters.. You may want to turn your sound down :)

C

Alarm! Alarm!

It was a calm, cool, clear night last night. There were millions of stars, no chance of rain, a great night to sleep with the windows open. All the animals were quietly snuggled in their beds, resting comfortably. A beautiful, peaceful night on the farm..

AH! Alarm! What? At 0430 am when the sun just started creeping above the horizon, I heard a horrible noise from outside! As I cleared my brain and my eyes from a night of deep sleep, I stumbled to the deck, and I realized it was Lilly! Orgling like crazy!! Oh NO!

I ran outside bare footed and in my pj's worried that there was a predator in the barn or near it.

We have been seeing coyotes running along the perimeter of the fields during the day lately and in my heart of hearts, my biggest fear is that one will come in to the barn to get Lilly or the pigs at night!

The thoughts racing through my mind were horrible!

As I ran towards the barn tears were welling up in my eyes and my stomach was in a knot!

Lilly continued with her alarm calls!

Cocco our dog was running next to me, but she seemed calm and her usual joyful self.. She is usually the one to first let me know when something is wrong..

As I ran up to where Lilly was standing, struggling to catch my breath, she continued to orgle. My eyes scanned the area, all the other animals seemed calm, quietly resting. Cocco was sitting by my side, looking at me, simply asking me why I was up so early!

Leggo was fine, the goats were fine, it was totally silent in the yard and the barn, except Lilly was going absolutely crazy!

I was frantically trying to find what she was so alarmed by!

Oh..Oh...Oh...

Then I looked in the pig pen...

oops..

I forgot to introduce Lilly to our newest arrival. She came late yesterday. Her given name is Mrs.H Wiggins (from the Carol Burnett show)

Umm.. Mrs H Wiggins is a spotted potbelly pig, who just happened to be up, waiting for her breakfast at 0430am! I know Lilly has never seen a spotted pig, and has never met this particular pig. I think Mrs Wiggins scared the beegeeeses out of Lilly! Mrs Wiggins went to bed early last night, so Lilly didn't see her when she went out to graze.

Mrs. Wiggins sleeps in the little playschool house that she came in. Mrs. Wiggins knows how to open the door to her schoolhouse and lets herself in and out. When she came out for breakfast this morning, Lilly must have been standing there grazing. I think seeing all of this for the first time in the middle of the night must have almost thrown Lilly over the edge, into an orgling panic attack!

Lilly was standing there looking at this pig and the school house like she was about to eaten by a 6 headed dragon!

I went into Mrs Wiggins' pen, gave her a scratch and introduced her to Lilly. Once Lilly saw that I wasn't devoured instantly she stopped orgling and just stood there and stared at us.

Then Lilly looked specifically at me and threw her ears back.

Okay, Lilly..

"I know, I totally deserve the cold shoulder for this one! Sorry!"

Who knew Lilly would make such a great guard llama?! If only the pigs appreciated all that she does for them :)

Everyone, let me formally introduce you to Mrs H Wiggins.. She really doesn't look like a 6 headed dragon to me, but who knows exactly how a llama would interpret the site of this, coming out of a plastic school house in the dim light of dawn! WOW! I guess I would orgle too!

On a serious note, Mrs Wiggins was surrendered to the rescue yesterday because her family is being evicted from their rental apartment and going to live in a "semi truck" until they can find another place to live. I'm glad Mrs. Wiggins ended up here, I can't let my mind think about where she may have ended up. (not sure yet how Lilly feels about her)

and of course...

Meet GUARD llama Lilly!

Whew! What a morning!

Can I have my coffee now?

C

Alien Llama..??

Ummm...

I've been keeping the barn quiet, and not going out there very often to bug the critters. Mainly because I've been trying to encourage Lilly to rest. Every time I go out there she gets up. Her back leg has been so weak she has hardly been able to walk. So I figured she needed rest.

This morning when I went out to do chores, I think there was an alien llama in the pen, not Lilly...
It looked like Lilly..
But didn't act like Lilly...

She got up and stood by the panel where I usually enter her pen.
As i walked through the barn, she didn't move.
I stopped and approached slowly, and reached in to try to pet her.
I expected at that point that she would do her usual maneuver, and scram out of the barn.
She stood there and let me scratch her neck!!!! WOW!

hmmmm.
Then I got some of Leggo's grain and put some in a bowl and slid it in to her..
She ate it!!...
??
Who is this llama and where is wild Lilly??
:)

I left the barn..
I wanted to leave with a success in my pocket..
I think I got a big one!
YEA!!!


Thank-you all for your continued support!

We are still also trying to place 16 llamas and have a new potbelly coming in to the rescue tomorrow due to a home foreclosure. Your help in spreading the word about MFAR is always appreciated!

Thanks!
Candy

Lazy Friday.. Hoping for a Quiet Weekend..

Lilly stayed in the the barn most of the day today relaxing in the shade.
It was quite humid so all the animals were moving slow and just hanging out.
There was a cool breeze tonight as the sun was setting and all the animals were out grazing in their pastures. Lilly was up. She wasn't running around like last week, just taking things slow.. Still weak in her back leg, but up enough to get out to graze and get back to the barn when she needs to.

We are all looking forward to a nice, relaxing weekend.

Wishing all of you the same!
C

Oh, I almost forgot!

We are still in the Shelter Challenge through July 26th. It would be great if you would all be willing to give us a vote daily!~
Directions: Once you click on the site below, click to donate food.
Then you will see a red vote banner on the top of the page.
Click it to vote in the Shelter Challenge ~
then search for: Midwest Farm Animal Rescue, Wisconsin and vote! YEA!!!!

http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/clickToGive/home.faces?siteId=3

Thank-you!

Lilly Is Up Again!

Lilly is up again!! It seems like she is almost back to where she was last week when she would run away from me to the far corner of the pasture! Today she shot up and out of the barn. She doesn't go far, but remained standing for quite a while. It still seems like walking puts stress on her leg, but she is much better and stronger today than she has been over the past three days! YEA!!

Here she is watching looking at Claire and me.. making sure we are where we are suppose to be in our designated areas! :) Go watch llama Lilly!



Lilly watching me do the rest of the chores.




It was a gorgeous summer day, low humidity, nice breeze! Just has to snap a pic in admiration and thanks!



Now.... Who can get any work done with these little "once wild" critters climbing all over the place! Their new favorite spot to nap and hang out is on my chair in my office!




Other MFAR Updates:
While Lilly's rescue and recovery has been going on, MFAR has also been involved in trying to place 10 llamas and 9 alpacas from a woman in a desperate financial situation.

Here are some of the gang. They have just been shorn and are ready to go to their new home. We did not bring them here to MFAR because they need to be quarantined and we didn't want to put any additional stress on Lilly.

Meet Tootsie Roll




Meet Bandit

Meet Dusty...(actually I think Lilly might fall in love with him...hmmmm

He almost looks like her twin! He is on the left, Lilly our love is on the right)

If you are interested in finding out more about the animals available for adoption, they are all listed on http://www.petfinder.com/ search barnyard, category llama, zip 54755

They are also linked in to our website at http://www.mfar1.org/

Thank-you all for your continued support, and words of encouragement...

Candy

ckimmes@hotmail.com

Resting...Still....Resting...

Well.. I think we are in a holding pattern while Lilly recovers again.

She progressed so quickly in the beginning, everyone including myself was in complete awe!

Now, it seems like she may have taken a few steps backwards and she may have over did it on that leg.

When I go out to the barn she is lying down, comfortably in cush position. When she sees me, she gets up and walks out of the barn. The last few days though when she tries to walk, her back leg gives out on her pretty quickly. She can stand for several minutes, but walking seems to me more difficult for her.

I have been trying to keep it quiet around here, and I haven't been making my 100 trips out to the barn to bug the critters. I want her to rest so that her good leg can heal. I am sure it is a stress and use strain and she just needs to rebuild and repair..

She looks great otherwise, her spirits are fantastic and she is very alert to everything going on.

I am still searching for the perfect treat. I think she gave up on the carrots.

Thanks to Ethel, we will be trying peppermints :) and someone else recommended peanut butter sandwiches.. but I was worried they might cause cavities :) I did know a llama once that liked orange slices.. I guess I could try those..

I have never met an animal (until now) that turns down every type of grain I put in front of it. So far she seems to prefer fresh grass. She isn't even going for the freshly baled alfalfa.

We'll keep searching.

I bought more treats today..

There has to be one she absolutely goes crazy for!

I am also being over run by four wild barn kittens in my house! They were wild, but I trapped them so that I could tame them and get them spayed and neutered.. Well, now of course they are couch potatoes, who lay around and watch Oprah.. that's all fine and good except I am allergic to cats! I am trying to grow big kitties! They have to weigh 2 pounds for our veterinarian to do their surgeries so you can bet they are being fed extremely well!

Eat Kitties Eat!

C









C

New Fundraiser..Contest.. Maybe we could win!

I found a fundraiser that is happening only through July 26th.
People click on the site and vote for Midwest Farm Animal Rescue and we can win a grant for the animals!

It is through the "Shelter Challenge" on the animalrescue site.org
You have to select Midwest Farm Animal Rescue and select Wisconsin, and vote.. It takes a few minutes, but it is free!!!

Vote away!! :) If we all vote like crazy through July 26th maybe we could win!?? It's worth a try :)

http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/clickToGive/shelterchallenge.faces#shelterVoteSection_header

Thanks!
C

4th of July Weekend...

All is quiet this weekend on the farm..
No fireworks here...
They're way to loud for all of our sensitive ears! Luckily our Amish neighbors agree..
I did see a falling star last night under the full moon at about 2am~ Awesome!

Lilly is resting more this weekend, I have found her her in cush position relaxing in the barn. I see that when she gets up, her back leg is weaker, not as straight, bending more at the knee when she tries to walk.

I think we may have over done it last week. I am sure that back leg has stress injuries and that she most likely has to repair and rebuild the muscles and tendons in that leg. There is no swelling that I could find.

We'll try to keep her quiet.. Let her rest.. I am guessing in a few days she will be up again, good as new.. There were a few days last week when she was really up grazing most of the day and was running away from me quite a bit..

Now we'll give her a little recovery time :)
....as far as treats go.. I am still searching.....
I think Lilly might like carrots.
I have been cutting a few for her and putting them in her bowl every morning, and a few are gone each night..
It's either her, or an over-night guest..

Hope everyone is having a great weekend!
Be safe!

Candy and the gang

Bugs and Flies...Biting! Ouch!

Lilly actually came to see me in the barn today while I was doing chores. First time ever!

She wouldn't stay in the barn if I opened her gate to go in, but she watched me from inside today rather than from the corner of her pasture!

I noticed the flies and gnats are biting today more than usual from the moisture and the summer heat.
I got out our trusty tea tree oil out and corralled her in to barn. It wasn't a 10 minute chase today, she gave up fairly easy. Her back leg seems weaker today. She went into the barn in only about 1 minute. Once I had my hand on her back, she gave up quickly and went into cush position in the barn.

Thank-you Lilly!

I massaged her neck and face. At first she was very skittish, pulling away from me and wincing her eyes like she was afraid I was going to hurt her... then she realized that the rubs weren't so bad after all..

I rubbed her ears with oil and she leaned into me and actually seemed to enjoy it!
Yea! Yea!!

I got some llamas snuggles!!!!!!
Thank-you Lilly!

ah :)
reward :)
C