January 25,
1999EXCERPTS FROM NOTES FROM THE GREENHOUSE
(By R. Genn)
A Crisis at Huerta Santa Maria
A dog associated with a neighborhood farm came onto the
property and started moving Javier’s sheep. There was a great commotion with all dogs
barking and ewes and lambs in all directions. The dog, a particularly bad neighbor, had a
large stick tied around its neck to try to contain its progress, but this didn’t
prevent a ewe from being chased and consequently falling into the swimming pool. Javier
was a long way away shouting and flailing his stick--trying to deal with the main flock.
By the time I got to the pool the ewe was going down for the third time. I managed to
reach down and get a hand on her and raise her head above water. Then I managed the
forelegs over the edge. A full-coated, waterlogged ewe is a heavy item and it was with
some difficulty that I moved one and then another hind leg over the edge. The animal was
giving no help and with all my strength I dragged the poor thing till it was fully out.
Large amounts of water came from her mouth as she lay there stiff and still. Then she
rolled her eyes, made a few expectorating coughs, kicked, and got to her feet. In a few
minutes she was an embarrassed convalescent walking.
When Javier returned from his roundup I pointed the animal
out and he suggested it was "no problemo" as if it happened all the time.
I’m not sure he knew at the time exactly what I had just accomplished.
Later, when my prowess at ewe-saving became more widely
known, it was suggested that I had performed mouth to mouth, but this concept was greatly
exaggerated.
