Flopsy: (sheep/ewe): Arrived 2011
Rainbow Bridge 12 May 2016:
Another long term, favourite resident departs, leaving us heart-broken. Flopsy came to us with two other ewes (Fuzzy & HiTops) in 2011 whilst still in Parkerville. She was a loner and not prone to contact, but had a sweet nature to match her face.
She got her name Flopsy from her one floppy ear – a legacy (along with scars from horrific leg injuries) from a serious dog attack early in life.
Last year she received veterinary attention for her loss of sight through cataracts and earlier this year again for a respiratory infection. It seems she just never made it back to her old self and it was time for her to go, which she did today peacefully and on her own terms.
You will be missed, Flopsy. R.I.P.
Flopsy arrived with two other ewes – Fuzzy and HiTops. They were owned by a resident in Parkerville who had them on his property as “lawnmowers’. They would often be moved to our property when our neighbour’s feed ran out and ultimately ended up with us permanently when there was just no more pasture for them.
Poor little Flopsy had earlier sustained horrific injuries and nearly died (you can still see the scars on her rear leg after shearing, four years after the attack) so she was also much safer on our property with better fencing. The same attack injured one of her ears which subsequently flopped is how she came to be known as “Flopsy”
So all three came to live with us at the Parkerville property for the better protective fencing and year-round feed for them; they naturally made the move with us to Happy Hooves in Gidgegannup and still hang out together!
UPDATE: November 2015 – we were very surprised to find Flopsy laying on her side, virtually blind and very snotty. After rushing her to the vets we learned that she has cataracts and will not get her sight back. The problem for sweet Flopsy is she is a loner and is prone to wandering into a sunny area and not being able to find her way back to shelter, so she is at danger of overheating. While we wait for an appointment with a veterinarian who specializes in ophthalmology to discuss whether cataract removal is an option, Flopsy has had to be housed in a stable for her own safety. She seems pretty happy with the arrangement, enjoys having her food uncontested and the safety of a smaller space – but of course this is not ideal for her long term health and quality of life. Please keep your fingers crossed for Flopsy – we will update you again as soon as we’ve got some answers from the vet.
Would you like to help us to take care any of the other animals still with us? One off donations and sponsorship gifts are available now to support our work. Thank you for caring about farm animals.
** Happy Hooves Farm Sanctuary – Where The Good Life Begins **
