Sometimes, We Don't Get Along

Last Sunday the sanctuary took in two new goats. Their names are Hank and Grissom, very handsome pygmy boys. They were raised together and are very much bonded. A little unsettled from being removed from their herd of origin. We know, in time, they’ll settle into their new life. Their new friends. Their new routines. We’ll watch closely, and learn how to bring them, as unique individuals, to a place of contentment. 

As we have given homes to more and more rescued animals, we are growing in confidence to provide them with good care. We are finding ourselves surrounded by 17 beautiful souls. Can you believe it? With the exception of the dogs and a few chickens, this has all happened since we moved to our house in July. Our lifestyle has changed dramatically! Free time has almost entirely evaporated. Mornings and evenings are spent feeding and watering everyone. Midday there is mucking to do, and snacks to distribute. We check on how everybody’s doing throughout the  day. 

Sometimes there are conflicts to mediate. The chicken, Miss Baggins, has become very aggressive towards our blind chicken, Miss Took.

Tookie is pretty defenseless. Her blindness is likely the reason that Baggins attacks her. This is how chickens intuitively manage their flocks, by removing members that they deem unhealthy.

But of course, with our mission of compassionate lifelong care, we cannot allow that. We are separating the girls during the day, and at bedtime Took is safe in the refuge of a cozy, straw-lined animal transporter.  We are concerned about her mental well-being though. That’s a lonely life for her. So we reached out to a local Sanctuary that rehomes animals, and it turns out they have a blind chicken that is also being isolated. If all works out, she will come to live with us and become a companion to our Tookie. 

The two Guinea Hogs, Lucy and  Ethel, mainly tolerate each other pretty well, but occasionally they have spats. Especially when they are in  heat. You’ll occasionally hear hi-pitched squeals from their domestic arguments. 

The goats have had a little bit of a rough road. The three myotonics have been together for years and generally get along, but sometimes they will pick on the shyest of the three, Archie. Now that our baby dwarf, Galadriel has joined their ranks, Gaga, the Matriarch of the herd, will often be rough and head butty with Gladdy. Luckily Galadriel is pretty plucky and holds her own, and Gaga is warming to her.

It’ll be interesting to see how Hank and Grissom fit in to this dynamic. We got these boys, really, because we are concerned about Gladdy’s well-being. She’s younger, more active, and more playful than the myotonic goats. We wanted her to have someone to play with and that could match her energy level. It’s yet to be seen if Hank and Grizz are up to the task. 

We’ve had struggles with the dogs, too. Our lovely Great Pyrenees, Freya, the queen of Rivendell, suffered a spinal injury in September that left one of her legs without any feeling. Fortunately it looks like it’s healing, and we are hopeful she will return to full mobility. She has been on a long convalescence though, and we had to separate her from  Frodo. Her vulnerable state was causing them to fight, despite their famous cooperation before her injury.

With this isolation from the alpha, we saw striking and concerning changes within Frodo. He became much more aggressive, even with his play companion, our chug, Leonard. Frodo was like a different dog: insecure, aggressive, and just absolutely unsettled. Frodo didn’t seem happy. He had always been such a mellow, agreeable, friendly, playful, and lovely member of our family. It was pretty amazing to see how much, and how quickly, this changed.

As Freya’s wound healed, they were able to spend time together again. Frodo immediately settled back into his old, lovely self. They play, sleep by each other, and stay on guard all night long. At this point you can’t see any difference between how he was before her injury, and how he is now. It’s such a huge relief. 

The truth is, it is very challenging to monitor and respond to the interactions between all of these individuals. It’s good work. It is glorious and interesting and complex, like a dynamic mosaic, especially when you can view it from a little bit of distance.

Even within the safety and care of the Sanctuary, animals sometimes do not get along. This is just the hard reality when you blend all of these personalities together. Sometimes they attract, and sometimes they repel. Animals, just like us, have a multitude of facets to their individuality and express themselves with an infinite variety. Just like people at your job or school, sometimes you’re not gonna get along with those around you.

This has caused me to think about the world right now. Lots of us are struggling to get along with others, even family members. People, seemingly, so different from ourselves. It seems like this is going to  last for a while. We are learning from the animals here. When the tension is high, it is helpful to have some degree of separation. But not so much that you’re too far away. Isolated but nearby is often the sweet spot. Over time, it can help to gradually increase contact, and before you know it, there we are: side-by-side within all our glorious differences. Still finding a way to inhabit this planet together. Learning from our differences, and having patience that there is a way towards an imperfect wholeness. It just takes time.