Rescue & Adoptions

Healthcare with Heart Stories

A Healing Bond

Found alone, wandering the streets of Brooklyn, New York, Simon was rescued in April of 2003 and arrived at our New York Shelter emaciated (weighing only 7 pounds) and extremely sick. After a very traumatic beginning, he spent the better portion of each day crying loudly for the attention he so greatly desired. Because Simon was new and obviously very ill, he had to remain isolated from the other animals on the farm. He spent his first week in a hospital isolation room on a thick bed of straw, with all the hay he could eat and fresh sweet feed mash twice a day. During the first week, we watched nervously, as even with health treatments and special feeds, he did not improve significantly. He also continued to cry constantly. That is, until he met Dan.

Dan arrived a week after Simon. Dan was starting work at the Education Center as a summer tour guide. He lived in the shelter house, with a room right above Simon's. Unable to bear Simon's mournful cries, Dan often came down from his room, laptop in hand, and watched DVD's with Simon sitting in his lap. Snuggling with Dan, the crying stopped, and the healing really began. Simon began to look forward to seeing Dan each day. Upon hearing Dan's voice as he arrived home from work, Simon's cries would become louder and much more intense, until Dan reached his room. Dan and Simon spent more and more time together. . .Simon especially loved to listen to Dan play the saxophone in the evening.

Through friendship and tender loving care, Simon was soon healthy, and it was time to move to an outside pen with new roommates: two small lambs. Simon no longer cried at night, and played with his new companions during the day. He still waited patiently for Dan each evening, however, frolicking crazily upon his arrival, and the two will always be special friends. His caregivers know in their hearts that no medical treatment could compare with the therapeutic effect his bond with Dan had on him. Finally feeling that he was safe from harm, and feeling joy, excitement and love for another was all little Simon needed to begin healing. Today, Simon is in perfect health - mind and body - and has many human and animal friends at the farm.