Horses come to us for different reasons. For many, it’s a first step toward a new and better life. Others get their chance for some much needed peace and caring, and a chance for us to rewrite their final chapter. Dorothy is one such horse.
Dorothy is a beauty of a mare who doesn’t deserve to be defined by the neglect she suffered before coming to SAFE. But the truth is, she’s lived through some severe hardship. Five months in our care has returned her health in many ways, but there are still lingering issues that cause her discomfort and pain.
Dorothy placed her trust in us, and in return we promised to watch over her and her quality of life. As long she continued to have good days, she would stay with us.
Saturday started as a good day. Dorothy enjoyed a bodywork session in the morning that left her calm, relaxed, and happy. Which is why it was such a shock in the afternoon when she became intensely anxious, running back and forth in her paddock, seemingly unaware of her surroundings. She worked up a lather of sweat over her entire body, tossed her head up and down, grinding her teeth. It was perplexing and alarming, and it seemed almost like she was trying to tell us something.
We tried to calm her by bringing her back to her paddock near Roy and Mirana, and giving her alfalfa leaves to enjoy, but her anxious behavior continued. Our vet suggested giving her a dose of Trazadone might help her relax, but she wouldn’t take more than a couple of bites of the mash it was crushed in. When the vet arrived to examine her, she was given a sedative, but it did little to settle her down. Clearly something was causing her a lot of pain. Maybe it was colic, maybe ulcers, maybe something else.
Or maybe Dorothy was making a difficult decision a tiny bit easier for the people who cared for her. Our girl had signed a DNR, and we chose to honor it. So last night, just as the crescent moon rose over the horizon, Dorothy left this world. Her passing was peaceful, quiet, and dignified.
I want to thank Trudy for everything she did for Dorothy yesterday. She tried everything possible to make Dorothy comfortable, she stayed late to meet the vet, and she stayed by Dorothy’s side until the end. Her kindness helped Dorothy a great deal, and I am very grateful that she was there last night. I also want to thank Candi for arranging Dorothy’s Masterson session, which made her last day gentle and wonderful. And I want to thank Dorothy’s friend Carrie who came out on Friday to spend time with her and groom her and make her shine. Carrie also took these pictures so we can remember Dorothy on a very good day.
