Some lambing seasons go without a hitch, some are filled with challenge and surprise. It is always tricky to know when to call for help with a sheep, the farmer is ever mindful of the animals’ worth at market, the vet bills are quite often higher than that. Our sheep are used for their wool, which Maria sells, and to herd sheep with Red. They are somewhere between pets and livestock. I am not a farmer, but a writer with a farm. But I won’t let them suffer needlessly – we are back in the big muddy with Ma.

I embrace the Thomas Aquinas idea – we need to be merciful to animals so that we can be better human beings, and be merciful to people. I brought a lawn chair into the barn and sat with Ma for a couple of  hours this afternoon to get a good look at her, she seemed very off to me. Her nose was running heavily, she was panting and she suddenly began limping severely on her left front leg. I got her in the stall – no easy thing with Ma, she is as big as she is sweet and dumb, Deb Foster and then Jack Macmillan helped along with Red to push her in.

After watching her, I became convinced she is seriously ill, she started the day in labor, now seems to be struggling for breath.  I called the Granville Vet and asked if Dr. Jason Weinstein can come tomorrow. All of their vets are good, but I felt a real connection with Jason and I trust him in a particular way. I will be honest, I will  not and should not spend a lot of money treating Ma, but if there is a reasonable way I can help her I will. Jason saved Liam’s life, I believe.

I have no doubt there is something wrong with Ma, and I have no reservations about calling for help. She was frantic in the stall and couldn’t settle, so I decided to let her out, perhaps for a few hours, perhaps for tonight. Ma is a rescue sheep, she is getting older, her udder seems distorted and distended to me, it just doesn’t look right. Time to call for help.  I don’t know how far to take this, I’ll take with Maria about it when she calls tonight. This is not going to be one of those lambings that go without a hitch.