Home Page, News From the Farm, March 24, 2019
May 2019
by John Muras,
Friends of Loma Vista Farm Board member
And Lucy’s special friend
An update on Lucy! Lucy is doing great, however we did find a small infection on her rear that we’re treating and keeping an eye on, still from the dog attack.
At the Spring Festival this Saturday, two attendees from the local neighborhood came out in the rain to check out the farm. They’ve heard so much about LVF, Nan Thibodeaus and Anne Fahey, both of Vallejo just a few blocks from the farm. They developed a fondness for Lucy while visiting the farm in the rain.
We talked about what Lucy went through during the dog attack and how she almost died. Her recovery has been rough as you all know. Talking with Nan and Anne, we talked about the head butting sign on Lucy’s pen. And how for a sheep, head butting is playing, but to humans we see the potential for danger as we may not be ready for the head butt and she could knock someone over.
I let them know that we really needed a volunteer to come once a week or more (or less) often and spend time with Lucy, and how that would help with her ‘head butting’ around visiting humans. Lucy loves to stroll and be walked around the farm and to play with visitors.
They quickly volunteered and offered to come spend time with Lucy weekly. Today was their first visit to spend time with Lucy. And it went well, both Nan and Anne are getting to know Lucy’s personality and Lucy is getting to know them.
These are all pics from today’s visit.
Love Lucy! Thank you to both Nan and Anne! We look forward to your future visits to LVF and Lucy!
________________
March 23
March 23
Animal Update,
From Farmer Rita:
“I took down one hog panel so the goats can get out into the bigger yard. I moved the hog panel in front of the water spigot for now so
they don’t rub against it. I’ll work on it some more next week. Lucy enjoyed some time out in the grassy yard, also. All three of them got along fine. She’s back in her stall now.
Deedee’s wound is scabbed over and has shrunk to about the size of a quarter. Lucy’s wound is doing well. She’ll still need cleaning and spraying of her wound daily. Lucy got her third acupressure treatment today. Rocky, Deedee, and Lucy are grateful for their new beautiful home and spacious yard.”
March 20
March 20
Animal Update from:
Farmer Rita
“Deedee and Lucy are doing well. Deedee’s neck wound is shrinking significantly. She is still receiving daily treatment, but it shouldn’t be needed too much longer. Lucy’s wound is doing well. The daily treatment for her wound will need to continue for a few more weeks. Princess, one of the big sheep, was limping last week, but is doing better this week. The new goat fence is going in and is near completion. I’ll take some pictures of it and send it to you. It will look the best when the interior temporary fences are removed and the goats and Lucy are released into the larger yards. Lucy is still confined to her stall since her wound is on her lower rear end. She needs to stay in a clean, dry area.”
March 15
Animal Update from:
Farmer Rita
“Dr. Sonder came to do an animal check today. She couldn’t find a definitive reason for why Princess is limping. Princess does still have
a wound on her front left leg, but seems to be limping on her front right. Dr. Sonder cleaned and sprayed her wound and gave her an antibiotic shot. She took staples out of Ruby and gave both big sheep some ivermectin to help with their itchiness. Dr. Sonder is happy with Lucy’s wound healing progress. The wound will continue to need to be cleaned and sprayed daily. Her pain meds are down from 2 to 1, every other day. Lucy will need to continue to be confined to her stall.
Dede’s wound will continue to need daily cleaning and spraying.
Dr. Sonder also checked on the horses. Stormy will need dental work in the near future. His hooves are still needing more time to grow into the correct shape. He’ll continue to need shoes on his front feet until this happens. Dr. Sonder is working with the farrier in this process. She gave both Stormy and Flash their spring vaccinations and dewormer.”
March 12
Animal Update from:
Farmer Rita
“Loree (a teacher from VCUSD who has raised livestock for many years) helped me do a critter check today. Princess, one of the big sheep, has been limping since Saturday, a back foot then a front
foot. We checked all four legs and didn’t find any wounds, swelling, or heat. Loree says maybe it is a little hoof rot, which is a bacterial infection caused by the wet ground. We’ll check her again tomorrow to see if we should give her a treatment then or what for the vet to look at her when she comes later in the week.
Lucy’s wound had a little pus on it, but it is not in a deep pocket where it could become a problem. It is shallow and limited. We cleaned and sprayed her wound.
Dede’s wound is coming along well. It is starting to scab over and she will be able to go from twice a day to once a day treatment.
I’ll give you all an update after the vet visit. She is scheduled to come on Thursday around 2/3pm.”
March 6
Animal Update from:
John Muras, Friends of Loma Vista Farm board member and Lucy’s human best friend
“Lucy is home now. Her wound will continue to receive daily treatment. She has to stay in her dry, clean stall and will continue to be on antibiotics and pain medicine while she heals more.
I covered up part of the photo with the wound because it is horrifically gross to look at.”
March 4
Animal Update
Farmer Rita’s report on Lucy
Dr. Sonder just called and said she will keep Lucy until tomorrow when she needs her next antibiotic shot anyway. Her wound is responding well to treatment. I’ll pick her up in the morning.
March 1
Animal Update
Farmer Rita’s report
“Our girl Lucy had to go to Napa Valley Equine today due to the extent of her wounds. They are going to debride them and clean them up in hopes they will start to heal better. PLEASE keep her in
your thoughts and prayers along with her human best friend, John B Muras. We hope this puts her on a path to recovery, she has already had to endure so much.”
February 27
Animal Update
Farmer Rita
“Dr. Fisher came today to check on the wounded animals. Rocky’s wound is minor so he was examined but didn’t need treatment. The other four animals received another dose of antibiotics. The final staples and stitches were removed. The big sheep, Princess and Ruby, have wounds that are healing well.”
Farmer Rita also said Dede has a significant wound on the right side of her neck that needs to be treated, but her other wounds are healing well. Lucy’s wounds on each side of her neck are healing well, but another very large wound still needs to be treated and Dr. Davis will consult with the other vets and possibly UC Davis. Farmer Rita said she would continue to treat all of their wounds daily and give the four animals another dose of antibiotic on Friday. One of the vets will be back next week to check the animals again.
February 20
An animal update from Farmer Rita
This was a happy moment of seeing the sheep out for the first time after their 10 days in their house. They enjoyed the warm sunshine and grazing peacefully.
A note from Connie as seen on the ‘Gofundme’ page
Thank you all that are donating!!!! I wanted to give a brief update on the animals. Since last week we have made great strides but the vet is still coming out multiple times a week to check their wounds and give them antibiotic shots. Lucy who we were most worried about took a turn on Sunday for the best. She was allowed out of her stall and to roam a little and this made all the difference in the world. Dede and Rocky were out that day as well jumping on the picnic tables and exploring. Yesterday the sheep, Princess and Ruby were allowed to roam and graze. We are happy to see all of the improvements and hope this continues. All the while the vet bills mount.
February 19
An animal update from Farmer Rita:
Dr. Vanessa Rood, from Napa Valley Equine, came today to do a recheck on the injured animals. She is very happy with their progress in healing since she last saw them one week ago. They all received another dose of antibiotic. Lucy, who was having the hardest time, has now turned the corner towards recovery. Dr. Rood checked and cleaned out all their wounds. They all still need close watching, daily treatment of wounds, pain medicine, and another dose of antibiotic at the end of the week.
February 15
An update from Farmer Rita on the health of the injured animals. “The vet came today to check on the goats and sheep. They all received another antibiotic shot. Ruby, the sheep, is doing well enough that she can stop pain medicine. Princess, Rocky, and Deedee will be only getting pain meds every other day. Lucy is still struggling. She is back on a stronger pain medicine that she will be given for the next three days. I’ll meet the vet again at the Farm on Monday and she’ll decide the course of action at that time. We’ll all keep a close eye on Lucy to make sure she continues to improve.”
Judi, head of the Friends of Loma Vista Farm animal committee and Farm volunteer added,
“Our vet, Dr. Sonder was very pleased with the cleanliness of the wounds and their surroundings. She had nothing but good words for the care that they have received from Rita and Denise this week.” Judi also expressed concern regarding Lucy’s health and added the staff would watch her this weekend. “Those of us who are at the Farm will take time to simply sit with her.”
Judi, however, was pleased with the progress of Princess and Ruby. “Princess, who was very quiet through most of the week, returned to her old self today. She butted Ruby away from the feed. Don’t worry. Ruby was eating as if there would be no tomorrow.”
