A few days ago, we welcomed two new Shetland sheep to our flock, and Mary, Cricket and Bella had their first job as Ambassador Sheep. When I first started calling them Ambassador Sheep, I knew what I meant by that, and I knew what I wanted them to do. I’m excited to be witness to what it is they mean by being “the original three,” and how that plays out with our newest friends.

Betsie and Wilma came to us from a couple who loved them dearly, but who were unable to care for them anymore.  Betsie is 14 years old, and Wilma is 12, so both are seniors for Shetland sheep whose life-span averages 14-16 years. Betsie is the one struggling the most. According to our vet, Dr. Barski, she has severe arthritis in all four legs and her hips, which, when she arrived, caused her spine to arch up in the middle.  In addition, she had stumbled in her old pen and injured one of her front legs. Adding to her pain was her over two year old fleece, which our vet estimated could account for up to 20 percent of her body weight. Imagine how our knees and hips would feel if we could so simply lose that much extra weight! Wilma’s fleece is in the same condition, but they both will be sheared in just a few days. 

Wilma is in really good physical condition, but when she arrived, her mental state was a combination of terrified and combative. Were she an Aussie, I’d call it fear aggression; I’m not sure what it’s called in sheep.  According to her previous owners, it took four men to catch her, and I just cringe at how being chased by four men would have made her feel. Because she’s a prey animal, every flight instinct in her brain must have been on overdrive. When she arrived and was finally out of the pickup truck she’d been in for two hours, she was staring daggers at me, standing straight and tall, head up, ears back, ready to fly ~ or to head-butt me, which she apparently has a habit of doing. 

As I write this, Wilma and Betsie have been with us for five days, and I’m seeing so much evidence of a positive transition!  Wilma is still fleeing at the sound of every car and truck that drives past, but she is also resting calmly on the cool grass of the quarantine pen most of the time. This morning, when Vega and I walked past the pen to say good morning, Wilma didn’t even stand up. She stared daggers at Vega, but she did so laying in the morning shade. Pretty good progress, I’d say! 

A few days ago, we started Betsie on a pain management plan. So far, there’s good evidence that it’s working. Her spine is not as arched, and she’s moving around the pen easier and more often. This morning, she even hobbled over to me for gentle pets. After she’s sheared, we’ll get an accurate weight and modify the plan a bit. She has other issues, as most seniors do, but a pain-free life for what time remains is our goal for her.

One of the best pieces of the past five days has been Cricket’s welcoming of our new sheep. At least, I think he’s welcoming them. He’s not head-butting the fence, which is a good thing. The quarantine pen is separated by one fenced pasture from Cricket, Mary and Bella’s space. They can all see and hear each other, though. From the day Betsie and Wilma arrived, Cricket has been checking on them every so often. He’ll go to the separating fence, call out, graze a bit, call out, graze a bit more … sometimes, Mary joins him at the fence to graze, but she hasn’t called to them until this morning. Bella is totally unimpressed and goes about her business without the least concern for fences or conversation. 

Yesterday morning, Betsie talked back. I was just finishing morning chores when I heard this fragmented “Baaa…Baaa…Baaa” coming from the quarantine pen. From inside the little barn, Cricket answered. Then Betsie responded, then Cricket…then Mary joined in! It was a regular conversation!  I walked down to them and found Betsie standing in the catch pen that is part of the larger fenced area. This is where I’ve been giving her grain and meds in the evening so that Wilma doesn’t eat more than her fair share. Betsie just looked at me. Hoping I was interpreting non-verbal sheep communication correctly, I poured both some grain and took it in to them.  They ate, I unlatched the catch pen wall, Betsie waddled out to Wilma, and I’ve not heard from them since. Apparently, I caught the request! 

As with all animals that join our family, we’re moving very slowly with these two. Because we have two fenced regular pastures, when Betsie and Wilma’s quarantine time is over (30 days from the day they arrived), they will move to the little pasture that Cricket, Mary and Bella started out in. I’ll try to acclimate the groups from there.  John, though, is working on building a shed in the little pasture for Betsie and Wilma in case this takes longer than nature will give me until the snow flies.  Betsie simply can’t take being head-butted by either Cricket or Mary, and Wilma … well, time will tell.  

I’ll definitely keep everyone posted! Thanks for following our journey!