Grandma Oooodie and Jackie Boy
Jackie Boy standing guard over his mother
Grandma Oooodie
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In late
September I received an email from Cindy Wrobel. She is the
Humane/Animal Control Officer for Walworth County, Wisconsin. Cindy
had been contacted by a woman (Kim Mack) who was taking care of 2
donkeys (mother and son) where the owner passed away. The owner has
only a son who lives out of state and is not able to care for the
donkeys himself. The property the donkeys had been living on had
just been sold and Kim could no longer continue to provide for them.
After all, she had been their caretaker for the past eight years and
they were not even her donkeys! Cindy had pretty much given up
finding a placement for them in Wisconsin, and then found Turning
Pointe`s website and emailed me about the pair.
I asked Cindy
to send me some pictures, ages, and to consult with Kim about the
general condition of the pair. When the information was given to me
I decided that It would be out of the question to transport them any
distance. Jackie Boy is thought to be in his mid teens, but Grandma
Oooodie easily could be 30+ years old and very arthritic and had
surely foundered in the past.
What to do?
Who could and WOULD be willing to help these two old timers? I knew
immediately who to call on. Kelly Dehnel of Wausau, Wisconsin. Some
of you will remember Kelly and her donkey TPDR Hamilton from our
virtual show several months back. She is truly a kind and
compassionate person with a heart big enough to take in any donkey
that is in trouble. Sure, she and husband Gene would go for them. In
several days the two old timers were adjusting to life at Gene and
Kelly`s beautiful farm in Wausau.
We are very
concerned about Grandma Oooodie as she appears to be painful some
days, but then other days she seems to manage a bit better. She has
had a recent visit by Kelly's vet, and will be seen again next week
for films of her front feet and legs. She is an old, old lady and we
are not sure what the future holds for her. For today, both she and
Jackie are where they will be much loved and cared for. Kelly will
give them BOTH A HOME FOR LIFE.
Thanks Kelly,
You are one special lady!
Sharon
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Kelly Dehnel and Kym Mack
A letter from Kym to Kelly.....
| Hi Kelly & Gene, How are things going? I've been having some slight withdrawals. Like feeling like I'm suppose to go "do the donkeys" then remember and I sigh...I'm thinking the squirrels will benefit from all the bread crusts that I don't have takers for anymore. And my chipmunk friends at the barn who always had treats waiting at certain checkpoints may be wondering why there was a giant pile of dried split peas, lima beans and macaroni sitting on the floor. I find myself daydreaming about their new life at the mansion and I thank God for His perfect will. I can't even imagine a sweeter new mom than you! God knows and cares for even the animals we love. And as I trusted Him to find a home for them He showed Himself faithful. I have been blessed so much over the years by Ma and Jack. They have taught me so much about myself and others. Patience, endurance, provision and love just to name a few. You see Kelly, I, (like you) have been given this passion for animals. God created me with this passion in my heart for His creatures. It is when I am caring for them that He speaks to my heart most intimately. The lessons are lessons from the heart of God to my heart. It is when God speaks my language. I want to encourage you in caring for God's creation. And thank you for responding to His choice for the donkeys. Perhaps if you want to hear more of my stories about the donkeys we can continue to write each other. I have many! I await (patiently) a report on their first encounters in Wausau! With gratefulness and appreciation, Kym
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February 19, 2008
Grandma Oodie and Kelly, winners in our Deck the Stalls Contest It is with a heavy heart that we must tell you the news of Grandma Oodie's passing. Read on for Kelly's tribute to her dear, sweet Grandma Oodie, who is truly an Angel now, watching over all of us.
She touched my heart
My sweet Oodie. Where do I start? I was fortunate
to have been a part of your life, but only for a very short time. I
never knew the youthful Oodie. I never knew the middle aged Oodie,
but somehow the Oodie I knew was all of those only kept in an aged
body that ached on most days. We guessed the best we could that you
were 34+ years old. I will NEVER forget the look in your beautiful
eyes the day I FINALLY brought you home. For on that day, you showed
me the youthful Oodie so well. The Oodie that had so many stories to
tell from days long past. You showed me how happy you were to be
with a herd again. You were trying to leap with joy you were so
happy! You never had any troubles with the rest of the gang. You
would only twitch your sweet old achy body as if to tell the others
that you really didn't like what they were doing. They knew what you
were saying too, because they would just back away and give you your
space.
Our goal in this whole meeting was to get your
son "Jack" integrated into the herd so that when the fateful day of
losing you would come, poor Jackie boy wouldn't be so devastated.
Well..... I'll admit that the plan worked. Sweet Jack has accepted
being without you. I only wish someone would have told ME how YOU
would have come to touch my life in the way that you did???? I
should have known, after all your a donkey! The only part of the
plan I didn't consider was how would I accept being without you????
How do I keep my heart from breaking????
When I walk to the barn now, I still feel you
there. I listen for you, only to find that your not there anymore.
My chores have been cut in half and I find myself looking for more
to do. I wish I had more work to do Oodie, because then you would
still be here. I miss feeding you handfuls of grain, I miss the
touch of your soft nose against my cheek, and I miss looking into
your sweet face and telling you how important you are, what a queen
you are. I miss sitting by your side in the hay talking to you about
how perfect it would be for your legs to be straight. I feel in my
heart because of you, that there is more to this life than just what
we can see. Do you remember me telling you how much I wished I could
fix your crooked legs?? Oodie, I know that you are now running free
in green pastures, and your crooked legs are straight and strong.
You have that youth again.
You left behind a VERY sad me, but I will go on
because I know that one day I'll see you again. Yes Oodie, I could
have done without the pain of losing you, but I would do it ALL
again just to be near you, just to sit with you once again! 34+
years, you surely lived Oodie......... Oh how you DID LIVE!! I'll
see you someday girl, running and playing just like we talked and
dreamed of. When we are reunited, I hope that you'll greet me with
one of those great big Oodie brays!! XOXOXOXOX
Love Kelly
Kelly----we believe that she's the young Oodie once again. Thanks so much for making her last days some of her best days.
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Grandma Oodie's Memerial Garden
All My Best Friends Have Long Ears!
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