Wisdom of MuRefuge's Animals

The animals who share MuRefuge with us are astounding teachers, reminding us, the humans, of the "natural order" and our limitations of affecting this process.  

The oldest fawn and white Indian Runner duck had a stroke a week ago.  Dwight had to retrieve her water-logged from her pond and place her in the duck house last Sunday evening.  The following morning I found her lieing on her back flailing her legs in the middle of the duck house.  I propped her up in one of the nesting box certain I would find later in the day that she had left her body.  Not so!  By midweek she was eager to sip water from her bowl and the following day eagerly ate the slugs I found for her, managing all by herself to drink from her water bowl as well as eat some food.  Each ensuing day she willed herself to move further and further about the duck yard until Saturday evening when Dwight went out to put the ducks into their house for the night, he had difficulty distinquishing her from the rest of the flock.  Of course, she still sometimes falls over and flails her legs trying to right herself, so one of us goes out often during the day to right her when necessary.  Her seven sisters are adjusting to her different gait, seemingly welcoming her back to "the flock".  

This picture was taken last Fall.
The oldest duck is the one behind the left most blue duck.

Saturday afternoon I found them all together in bunches of twos and threes resting right near Jack.

Now Jack, 

This picture was also taken last year, late Summer.
Jack beneath the rosemary enjoying the filtered sunshine.

as some of you know, got bitten around his right eye last week, in all likelihood by another cat. He had a traumatic Friday afternoon: 

• trapping Jack and moving the cage into the car
• car ride to the vet. which elicited continuous fearful cries 
• visit to the vet. and her treatment 
• sedating him 
• cleaning and clipping all the fur around his right eye 
• washing out the three puncture holes, one of which was into his sinus so the solution washed out his right nostril 
• getting injected with an antibiotic that will last over two weeks 
• plus a gratis rabies shot 
• car ride back to MuRefuge 
• overnight stay in the garage to keep him warm within the rather large wire trap  

Amazing to me how easily the vet. and her technician handled Jack, and how on Saturday morning he did not bolt when the trap door was opened, but rather just sauntered out and sat looking up at us, ate a little food, then slowly disappear down the front path no doubt to pee.  In the afternoon Jack allowed me to wrap him up in a towel and hold him so Dwight could put the antibiotic ointment on his three puncture wounds. This morning Jack was in his regular morning spot awaiting his food after of course much petting. His eye appears to be healing nicely with no discharge, reddness nor swelling.

Jack's house with his food bowl visible in the front corner.

I would like to thank all of you who responded with love and concern for Jack!  And, thank you, Candace for your information about insulating Jack's house.  Dwight is going to see to that project.

The strength of a BEing's will and "going with what is," i.e. being flexible, is the wisdom I am gleening from the duck's determination to BE a part of her flock and Jack's ease with his injury.