The Sad Side of the Barn, 8-15-21

My old goat Sally has been going downhill and today when I got home from church I knew she was at the end. I called the vet but before the vet arrived Sally had died. Rick is burying her in the pasture now.

I’ve had a real run of bad luck lately but it comes with having animals, I guess. Sally was a rescue so I don’t really know how old she was but ….. there she goes across the rainbow bridge.

60 thoughts on “The Sad Side of the Barn, 8-15-21”

  1. Pat in Michigan

    Mary, I’m so sorry to hear about Sally. A sad day for sure.I know she had the best life with you and Rick. How many goats do you have?
    Have you found anything out about your roosters?

  2. Kathy in western NY

    Oh Mary I am so so sorry you have said goodbye to another beloved pet. I feel your heart breaking as I struggle dealing with losing an animal. And I know the older I am getting, the more I have to accept it’s hard knowing I don’t know if I have it in me to care for more once I lose them.

  3. Diane in Maryland

    I am also so sorry your loss! Our animals become family to us. As Pat said, Sally had a wonderful life with you. Sending hugs,

  5. Betty Klosterman

    Oh, Mary. I’m so sorry your goat has passed. Just remember what a wonderful life she lived with you on your farm. That may not have been if you had not found her. And you’ll always remember her. And she has gone to meet her maker.

    Betty in Rapid City

  7. Jo in Wyoming

    We are all sending hugs to you. Yes, it has been a sad time for you. Losing your chickens and now a goat.
    She had a wonderful life on the farm and will be missed.

  10. Kim J LeMere

    I’m so sorry to read about sweet Sally crossing the rainbow bridge. She got lucky being rescued by you and Rick. My sympathies.

  11. Jan from TN

    So sorry for your loss. I know you loved Sally as you do all your precious animals. 🌈💔😢

  12. Jan

    So sorry to hear about Sally. Animals have a way of worming themselves into our hearts.

  13. Janice Hebert

    It’s heartbreaking to lose our furry friends. She did have a good life there with you and Rick, she was lucky to have been adopted by such a loving family. I guess we have to take the bad with the good, right? And there’s so much good there on Palm Ave! Will have you in my thoughts and prayers Mary. Be still… Jan in MA

  14. Bobby Sutton

    So sorry for your loss. No matter if we have them for a short time or long, losing an animal and pet is akways difficult. They take a little piece of our heart ❤️ with them.

  16. Bonnie McKee

    Mary,
    I’m sorry for your loss of Sally. Losing a pet is always so hard, no matter how long you have loved them.
    You are in my thoughts and prayers.
    Bonnie, in Oregon

  17. Lynette Woide

    So very sorry. Comfort in the fact that you gave her a good life. They have such a way of coming into our hearts. My thoughts and prayers are with you. Sending a big hug as well. Xx

  20. RITA in Iowa

    Mary sorry you lost Sally, she had the best home. Maybe toast a beer to her tonight.

  21. Mary M. Reinhardt

    So sorry on your loss of Sally. Mary. I know how you feel as I had to put my two labs to sleep last week. Molly (white lab) was 12-1/2 and her hips went out. Maggie (black lab) was 11-1/2 and had cancer. I kept them as long as I could, but I wasn’t going to let them suffer. Maybe they will welcome Sally as she crosses the bridge.

    1. Mary Etherington Post author

      Mary Reinhardt – oh my goodness! Two labs at once? Devastating! I’m so sorry!

  22. Pamj

    Mary, my heart hurts because yours is hurting. I understand how you feel and all the “if’s” you have. And every time you go to the barn, our human instinct makes us look for the lost pet, only to be remembered from the empty space where they once lived, that they are “really” gone.. And the tears flood.. but tears are good for our hearts, they help fill in the holes from our lost pet..
    On another note, we seem to drill ourselves when we lose a 4 legged family member. Hopefully as each day goes by, the pain will ease.
    Just know you were a fantastic mama to Sally. Hugs from the Texas Hill Country.

  23. Cheryl

    Sally was a very lucky rescue goat to get to live with you on your gorgeous farm. You gave Sally a second chance and that makes it extra special!

  24. Diane Bauer

    Mary, I am so sorry you’ve had yet another loss in the barnyard. Sally will be missed, I’m sure.

  25. Montana Kathy

    Mary, so very, very sorry to hear about Sally. Every time we lose a pet, it seem as if we’ve lost a piece of our heart. Try to remember the good days. She had a good life.

  26. Marsha from Kansas

    I’m so sorry Sally has crossed the rainbow bridge. I know you will miss her.

  27. Kimberly Lusin

    I’m so sorry for your loss and know you will miss her terribly. Be comforted by knowing that Sally was so lucky and blessed to be cared for by you.

  28. Diane and Squeak

    Aww. As everyone said, Sally will be missed. She did pick a great family to join or you picked her. Peace to you and Rick. Very sad.

  30. Arrowhead Gramma

    Mary, Just remember what a great life she had living with you and Rick. ❤️🙏❤️

  31. Jesn

    Mary I am just so so sorry that you have lost Sally. She is at the rainbow bridge now and so no more struggles for little Sally. You gave her a good life while she was with you. My heart hurts for you.

  32. Marj in Western Wisconsin

    So sorry to hear of another pet crossing the Rainbow Bridge. Hugs, Mary, know they no longer suffer.

  34. Angie from Baltimore

    But oh the love she felt in her last days. I just had to put my cat down but she was so well loved and will be missed. The say it hurts because you were loved by them. So sorry for your loss. When you pass over thing you will have more animals at the rainbow bridge than most of us but they will be so happy to see you.

    1. Mary Etherington Post author

      Angie from Baltimore – I am looking forward to seeing everybody again! Really!

  36. Carolyn Boutilier

    Sorry Mary. Your animals have had a wonderful life in your care. they were lucky to have you as their caretaker.
    Carolyn b Shenandoah Valley VA

  37. Pat Smith

    Ah Mary, another loss of an animal on the farm. Sally was lucky to have been with you both and live on such a beautiful Iowa farm. So many losses lately…

  38. Jeanie S, Central Illinois

    So sorry to hear about Sally. Sadly, this loss is soon after losing the chickens, but I know this is part of having animals. You have my complete admiration, Mary, for the wonderful life you have given to a multitude of homeless animals. 🥰

  39. Sharon Lowy

    So sorry for your loss. She was lucky to have the time spent in your care. How we love our animals.💕🙏

  42. Bobbie Woodruff

    I’m so sorry Mary. I lost 2 of my fur babies with in a 3 months period. It’s so hard when we think of our animals as our kids that never leave home. I’m like you if it comes to my house to live it’s forever.
    It’s so hot here it’s really hard on pets that are outside all the time. The cows are drinking so much more water. My dogs are all inside and we have air conditioning they are good. Only 3 left now. I’m getting old enough I don’t want puppies any more as I don’t know where they would go if something happens to us. I’ll only get rescued from now own.
    Hope we get rain soon, it’s so dry here. Lots of fires in Washington and more in Oregon and California.

  43. Mary Says Sew!

    Mary, I join everyone else here feeling your grief of the loss of Sally. Our animals live so long because they’re so loved and well cared for, but that means it’s harder to lose them because of all the years they’ve been with us.

    Since Sally was a rescue, I am imagining what she might have thought when she came to live with you. Maybe she asked your other animals, “Is this Heaven?” And the others replied, “Yes, it’s Heaven, in Iowa.”

    (With apologies to “Field of Dreams”.)

  44. Tammy Guerrero

    So very sorry about your pet (family member) it’s hard to loose a friend. My barn seems so lonely when you loose a friend!

  45. Linda from Oconomowoc

    So sorry to hear about your goat. It doesn’t matter how old or how young. When you love and it dies a piece of your heart breaks off. It never gets easy.
    You will see all your “babies” again.

  46. Linda Schluchter

    I’m so sorry for your loss of Sally, it doesn’t matter how old they are or how long you’ve had them, each loving animal is so special in their own way and it hurts terribly when they are gone. Thank you for giving Sally a wonderful home with all her friends and family, she surely had a good life.

  48. Pat

    I’m sorry to hear of Sally’s passing you have her a wonderful life and so much love ❤️

  49. Linda

    So sorry for your loss. We are going to need to put our fur baby down, he has a tumor in his mouth & a heart mumur 😢 we rescued him14 years ago. Sad day
    Linda

  52. Tanya T. In Houston

    Great sympathy on the loss of Sally. She had THE best family all these years! It may be time to make a goat quilt in her honor.

  56. Marilyn Morley

    Just adding my sympathy for your heart breaks – take good care
    of you and know that you gave all of them a wonderful life. M

  57. Dolores M. Harding

    Mary, Thanks for the photo. I was raised on The farm and saw this occasionally, too. It sounds like you were close to all your animals, sorry for you guys loss. Dee H.

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