We had a lovely reprieve in the weather this week and we are very grateful for that, because today we quietly said goodbye to 29-yr-old Josie. Josie, and her 28-yr-old sister Judy, came to us last year when Josie's advanced COPD required more management than her owner could give. She arrived in extreme respiratory distress but we had the medication and resources to get it under control and give her another 14 months. Though she was quite the sight living in the pony pen with the minis and donkeys last winter, since they don't eat round bales 
She is one of the lucky ones who had a devoted owner her entire life who has stopped by regularly and visited even after coming here, as well as been able to live her entire life with her full sister Judy. They were happy, spoiled girls who caught the eye of everyone who came in as they were a lovely matched pair. Judy's breathing started to have issues last winter, so they were both in the mini pen for a while, and have had a good summer in their own private pen in the front yard, with free range turnout when they wanted it. They'd only loose the privilege the couple of times they decided the corn field looked delicious and went exploring!
Unfortunately, over the last few months, the medication that helped control her COPD began affecting her digestive system. She'd stop eating and lose weight, and if we took her off the meds she would eat but her breathing would get poor. As she stopped rebounding and her weight started to slip, and her spark dimmed, we knew it was time to say goodbye before she was in crisis or struggling. So today, Josie and Judy had their morning breakfast, spent the day roaming the yard, came in for a shared special treat and hours of grooming, and then Josie was quietly laid to rest and Judy was given the chance to say goodbye.
Though Josie lived here for the last year and was obviously loved, we can't claim her as "ours" when she had such a good person in her life the entire time. But she was loved, she will be missed, and we are grateful to have known her.
Please keep both Josie's person and sister, Judy, in your thoughts. They will both be grieving hard. We will be keeping a close eye on Judy and giving her lots of extra attention to try and help her get through it.