06/25/2025
We lost Ethel yesterday morning. The story and tribute follow below. We are very thankful to the Vets in Savannah for going above and beyond to help her.
ODE TO ETHEL
It all happened so fast.
It was a very hot Sunday in June, about 10:30 in the morning, when I noticed it. Her slow, stiff stride as we stepped up to the gate to offer her some crackers. Her sister Lucy was jumping up and down on the fence begging for more but Ethel was standing back.
Odd.
However she finally ambled over and though uninterested in the salty treats, she at least stood and watched. She probably just didn’t want to give up her shady spot in the corner, I told myself.
The next day, everything changed.
About 9am, I glanced down at the grassy goat arena. I saw Ethel laying in the sun. Not terribly unusual for farm animals to do. But something told me to go check on her.
When I approached she was lifeless. She didn’t respond to my body and voice as I quickly began running to her calling her name. At first I thought she had died. But as I bent down to examine her she was breathing! I checked her body temperature with my handy dandy a**l thermometer and she was at 105 degrees. Respiration rapid and moderate heartbeat. But she wouldn’t react to me. Goats usually pop up and run when startled. Not Ethel. Not today.
Fearing dehydration I immediately began cooling her down with water and ice packs. I gave syringe injections of cool water to her mouth which she would not, or could not, open. At 100 lbs, I could not move her alone so I desperately began calling everyone I could think of to come assist while I threw up a canopy of tarps to shield her from the burning rays of the summer sun.
Quickly my buddy David arrived and we made a make shift gurney out of my old furniture dolly and got her up to the garage and in the car. I shot up the road like a rocket while David called the vet to let them know we were on our way and would need emergency fluids for Ethel.
They were ready when I arrived and as they examined her they asked when her last Tetanus shot was.
Tetanus shot? For a goat?
I had never in 30 years of raising goats, heard of such a thing. So they proceeded to treat her for severe dehydration and possible Tetanus. They did not have anti-toxin on hand so I headed home to scour the internet for other clinics, stores or labs close by that might have the miracle drug we needed.
I finally found ONE vial at a farm store about 15 miles away.
I raced to pick it up and then flew back to the vet clinic. Unfortunately Ethel expired as we loaded anti-toxin into the syringe.
Exhausted and overcome with sadness, I bent down to say goodbye to my loyal little companion.
People say I go way beyond for animals.
That’s often true.
“Why can’t you be that dedicated to humans?” They will ask.
The answer is simple.
Human kind doesn’t want simple kindness. For humans are not simple. They judge, they demand, they question.
It is so much more satisfying to help all of God’s other creatures. The 4 legged ones who appreciate a little scratch on the neck or a quick pat on the head. The ones who are happy with just a small handful of crackers.
They are thankful.
They don’t question kindness. They embrace it and return it with no strings attached. They are simple creatures. Dedicated, loving and grateful.
Rabbits, horses, donkeys, dogs, sheep and goats.
Especially one in particular who will always affectionately be remembered
as a good and loyal friend.
A very special little lady who was simply known as...
Ethel
