Esther came to Odd Man Inn from a very loving home who could no longer care for her special needs. She was a very gentle, friendly Dorper in her golden years. She rarely needed to be shorn because her coat would shed naturally, which is the way sheep were naturally designed. (Sheep usually need to be shorn because they’ve been bred for that trait specifically.)
Esther was Johnes positive. Johnes (pronounced YO-nees) is a disease that causes malabsorption in the gut that progressively worsens with time. Most animals with Johnes are euthanized as soon as it is discovered because they’re deemed poor quality for production and a risk to the rest of their herd. They’re treated purely like commodities, and sickly animals are not considered worth the effort.
She was getting thin in spite of all our tricks, and we knew the time was near. Every animal with Johnes is different, and not all of them are this fortunate, but Esther lived a very full life even with her disease. Her doctors were shocked to meet a Johnes sheep who was 14 years old! In spite of supportive care, she went into organ failure, and we all agreed she was tired and ready to be set free.
She was loved by us all…but she was MOST loved by Clemmie. They were best friends who spent most days grazing the grassy hillside in tandem. Knowing and loving Esther the last few years of her life was a joy. Letting her go was only difficult because we miss her, but she lived a long, happy Sanctuary Babe life until the very end. See you on the other side, Esther-girl. You were LOVED.
