Ezra goes away

Mr Braun responded to our request for donkey care by taking his donkey away today. He called us last night to say that he'd bring over a couple bales of hay and take his donkey back.


I had assumed Ezra would be here until we found a horse, so Bellis wouldn't be alone. Indeed, that was why Mr Braun brought his donkey over initially, at least, I thought it was. Apparently he didn't care about Bellis being alone as much as he hoped to get out of caring for one of his equines for 4 months. 

That is based on the fact that as soon as he called us this week, he asked if we would buy Ezra for 500E. I already knew Ezra was for sale--he tried to sell him to me the day I showed up to visit with Baasha, to get him used to donkeys, long ago. My belief is also based on the fact that I told him I wormed the donkey, but he didn't pay us for that, and he knows I had to pay for hay, and he didn't pay us for that.

So last night I spent some time with the donkeys, and bedded the stall deeper than ever, and fed them the best hay I have. I said my goodbye this morning, not really sure if Mr Braun was threatening or actually gonna take him away. I gave them another pile of green sweet hay this morning, wondering if it woudl be the last tasty meal he'd have. I said, "Bye Ezra" and watched him eat a long time, imprinting his image onto my memory.

I'm relived he's gone, as sad as it is for Bellis, because it was hard on me to do so much work and invest money in an animal and know that I wouldn't get anything back from the owner. And the braying, oh my, he was so loud. (Money: wormer, hay, bedding, water - not too much, but not nothing.)

Now, of course, Bellis is loud. Just like when Baasha died, she's calling for him. I don't know how long she'll keep this up, but I'm praying it won't be as long as last time.

If I knew this would happen, I wouldn't have let Ezra come here in the first place, because two great losses are more than one. Not that it wasn't wonderful to see them together....

I got home from work an hour ago and immediately gave Bellis a package of carrots - an entire kilo. Then I made her a batch of beet pulp, something she hasn't had since Baasha was here. Then I gave her the beer I bought for her at the store today, but she doesn't like it. Oh well. I feel so bad for her. I don't like the way she stands and just listens for him, twitching her ears back and forth in hope.

But I sat with her and she stood over me and rested her head on my head (her head is quite heavy). I will do all I can, but I know the reality of the situation. The farrier is coming for her tomorrow, and I might try to get off work part of the day to be here.

Oh, and Mr Braun brought over the world's crappiest hay - I found two small bales tonight. Black with mold, and when you touch them, mold clouds float up and cause a coughing fit. *sigh* I cannot believe he would feed this stuff to his horses, but then...I know about the herd he lost "mysteriously" one Winter...(I blogged about it.)

I am dismayed. This is the second time we've had an equine here whose owner just completely dismissed any sense of responsibility. The other was that pony Blackie - remember? I had to call and call: "Your pony needs a vet!" until they just simply took him back. I guess taking an animal back is easier than taking the steps necessary to ensure it's healthy. People. *sigh*

Update: I just looked out the window and Bellis is eating the beer-soaked grain: ) I added a little grain to the beer I'd poured into the bucket. Don't worry, it's just a tiny bit. And I know one beer won't affect a donkey.

Say a prayer for Bellis please. She shouldn't have had to go through this twice. And that we find a horse soon, really soon.