Our Old Friend Huey

This is our old friend, Knee-High Nibblers Lil' Huey, born March 7th, 2003. This was the night he came home to live with us on May 27, 2007. It is hard to believe it was that long ago.

He came to us as one of our first herd bucks, along with this sweet guy, Steely. While our does can be a bit fussy, the bucks were always sweet and glad for a back scratch and a little one on one attention. Wyatt Clay turned five that summer, and was glad to help see to the friendly boys, so when it came to them showing at shows, Bailey let Wyatt show them.

Here he was with April Seiler, his first time in showmanship.  We are pretty sure that all he said was that he was a sweet buck and his name was Huey and he had a rumen...

Huey, aka Hubert, as everyone around here has at least one nickname, settled in well to life here at Patriot's Dream, and enjoyed his life as a herd sire, seeing to the does and helping to raise the baby kids.

 Huey and Wyatt continued to show together, and even attended the National pygmy goat convention in Cottonwood. Each showmanship class, there was Wyatt with his buddy Huey, Bailey rooting him on from the gate, people shaking their heads at the young child showing the big buck. About a year ago, I saw photos of the two of them from the convention pop up on another person's facebook page, laughing about the little boy with his buddy from way back at that convention in Arizona.

Even without a proper hold on the lead, there stood silly Huey, right at Wyatt's side. As the years went on, Huey sired sweet kids, and loved wandering the property. When the young silkies would squeeze out of their pen and into the buck area, we would find them riding around on his funky twisted scurs.

As he grew old, the arthritis began to set in, he still ambled around the property, He looked after the new young bucklings, and talked with them at the fence. When they got out of pen time for Bailey to clean their pen, he still wandered the hill on the east side of the house.  He was slowing down, and losing muscle tone, but still a happy old man.

We have known for some time that old Huey, was getting old. Bucks are generally expected to be around from eight to ten years. But despite stiffness, every time I would walk by worrying about him, Powerstroke would make sure he was standing up and eating, looking me in the eye to make sure I noticed that his buddy was just fine.

Then this week, Huey took a really hard turn. One of the hardest things to know is when it is time. We watched him carefully and did more work around the pens. Thursday he had had a bad spell, and the only reason he got up at all was because Bailey stood him up. We thought we would let him rest overnight. This morning he got up and moved around a little, but not well. Each time, Bailey moved his own bowls of food and water along with him.  Sweet old Huey passed away this afternoon, in his favorite spot,  on his own terms.  We will miss our sweet old Huey, a truly special guy. Rest in Peace, dear friend.

How do you Say Goodbye?

Fifteen years ago, Charlie, Bailey and I moved here to the current property.  Shortly thereafter, we realized that Callie Jo needed a friend. We were still mulling it over when Bailey saw her opening. She was getting ready to turn two, and she asked for a dog to come join the family for her birthday.

We went down to the local shelter, and wandered the isles while her Daddy was away on a duty assignment. I was worried she would want them all. I knew I did! But she carefully walked the line, looking from side to side, gazing at the animals. Then we got to the last of the row. As she looked to the left, a single white paw extended through the bars, and Bailey stepped closer. Their eyes met, and she sat down.

After meeting Callie Jo, and going through a few hoops, Vegas came home the next day. According to the shelter, he was 3 to 4 years old. How could we have known that he would be terrified of men, noises, fly swatters, the training clickers, newspapers and more?

These photos were taken about four years later. By this time, Callie Jo and Vegas were great buddies, and Hopper Spark had joined the family, as well as Wyatt Clay. That is Vegas Ace on the left in the top right photo. He loved his Bailey, and his girl dogs. A mellow guy, the girls always got what they wanted.  He never did learn how to play, but found his way into following the girls as they played.

As the years went by, Vegas was here when the goats came home. He tried to save Bailey's first goat Vital with Callie Jo when there was a dog attack by one we were watching for a friend. He was there as we nursed Vital back to health, and was there when we lost Callie Jo not long afterward.

Vegas helped raise Remington Pups when she came home, and taught her which humans belonged to which dogs, and how to have manners. He had a terrifying wandering habit in those years. On one occasion, two semis stopped and honked in the big road when he had figured out how to open the base of the West gate. The gate was quickly secured, but even now a honking semi on the big road leads to everyone counting dog noses.

As time went on, his muzzle turned grey, and he slowed down a bit. He had mostly let Remington take over his guard dog duty when she suddenly fell ill three Christmases ago. He calmly snuck out to realize what happened to her, and then followed me around for weeks, giving me love and attention as I mourned the animal who had actually been more mine than anyone else's. Through birthday parties and sleepovers, holidays and visits with family, his sweet yet quiet boy nudged his way into so many hearts.

Old Man Vegas began to wander more, but always had love for us, even if he didn't want to leave the property. His groomer came to him, even though he was old enough most groomers wouldn't have wanted to work with him, Denise came to him twice a year to make him comfortable, working around the growing tumors and quiet complaints of our sweet buddy who didn't look forward to haircuts, but still had a wag and a kiss for her.

Veglar, Vegie, Old Bear and more were his names, and Graybeard was there as Hopper grew sick with cancer, and later that year welcomed Shadow Paws into the family. As she grew into her role, he took longer naps and really enjoyed the mornings and evenings outside, with Shadow waiting for him on rounds and using her nose to help his stand when he stumbled.

The years slowed Bailey's buddy, but he sat with her and reminded her about unconditional love when the bullying made us reevaluate so many of the influences in the lives of the kids. Then he enjoyed the regular ear scratches and treats that came throughout the day from having home schooled kids. 

In the last month, Vegas Ace's health decline became more apparent. Shadow and the kids worked harder to help him, and keep him happy and comfortable, making sure he didn't wander too long during the heat of the day. At about eighteen years old, we know we were so lucky to have Vegas as part of our lives. But that didn't make it any easier for us when we lost him late last night. With one last kiss to his Bailey and a nuzzle to me, he laid down his head and went to sleep. We know he had a great life here, with his own dog bed, doting girls, elk legs to chew on, elk to eat, his own fire hydrant and all the love to make whatever used to scare him melt away.  We are sad for us because we loved him so much.  We are so thankful for all we had with him.

Goodbye, Vegas. We will always have you in our hearts. Run fast with your girls up there.

Love to all.