August 29, 2008 – Today I lay on the side of the road, so thirsty, cars and trucks drive by, some slow down to look at me, but no one stops, no one cares. One month, I stay in this spot, alone. My mama, my herd is gone. My left front leg is injured, oozing with infection, it is hard to walk.

The short time I have been on this earth has been hard. The spring frost took my ears, just after I was born. The humans that now pass me by each day have no use with a horse that has an injured leg. My worthless life will soon end, the flies tell me, as more continue to land on my body.

As I sleep, soft voices awaken me. I feel a warm hand on my shoulder, I am frightened, but yet somehow I know there is no danger. Help has arrived. My head is carefully raised, allowing me to drink the water they brought for me. It tastes so good, my spirit lifts up. I am guided into a trailer; we drive away, leaving my death bed behind. Now in a stall, I feel safe, my leg is washed; my pain eases from the medicine they gave me. My heart told me to trust these women, they will save you …and they did. I dedicate my life to the Pound Rescue Angels, Linda McEwen and Trudy Sattler for finding me.

Linda and Trudy would like to warmly thank Dr. Chris, who made this rescue happen by driving out to them with her horse trailer. Her expertise and gentle guidance allowed us to quickly capture and load this animal safely and be taken back to her vet clinic for medical treatment.

September 10, 2008 Sweet Pea is doing a little better. She is getting stronger and eating well but she is in a lot of pain from her injured leg. We hope to take her to the horse vet. next week; if she is strong enough, for X-rays or ultrasound to determine the extent of her injuries and see if there is a foreign body in the wound causing the pain. The swelling has come down somewhat but if it was just infection, is should have been a lot better by now.

September 22, 2008 Sweet Pea is settling into her new home now. She is receiving lots of TLC and is eating well. She is safe and warm and has the company of her horse friend Bailey or her donkey friend Miss Daisy at all times. Since Sweet Pea has no ears, we aren't sure whether she thinks she is a horse or a donkey. She nickers to both of her friends but isn't sure whether to hee haw or whinny. Although Sweet Pea is eating well, her body condition is still very poor. Our veterinarians believe she was very near death when we found her - from starvation, dehydration and injury - and had been left there for at least two weeks before we found her. Sweet Pea obviously has a strong will to live and we intend to give her a fighting chance. The swelling in her injured leg has come down somewhat from antibiotics but unfortunately the infection was the least of her problems. X-rays done last week show evidence of a fracture and severe damage to the elbow area of her leg. There is calcium build up and scar tissue where the injury is. She likely was hit by a car since she has several other abrasions and cuts on her body. She remains very lame and her prognosis for improvement is poor. At this point, surgery or other procedures are not an option. Our immediate plan is to help her gain weight and get stronger and hope that nature will somehow kick in to help her out. We are pursuing options which will enable her to manage with her injured leg and live a happy pain free life alongside her friend Miss Daisy.

These are pictures of Sweet Pea taken October 4, 2008 – about 6 weeks after her rescue. She was badly injured and almost dead from starvation and dehydration when we found her orphaned and all alone in the ditch beside a road. She was given an extremely poor prognosis for recovery. However, Sweet Pea would not give up. With her strong will to live and determination to walk again, she has come a long way in a short time.  She has gained a lot of weight, as you can see, and is now walking on her injured leg. She is happy and in good spirits and enjoying the company of her donkey friend Miss Daisy.  Although her x-rays show a lot of bone damage we are very optimistic we can keep her comfortable and enable her to lead a relatively normal life.  Wouldn’t we all like to be retired at five months old! Sweet Pea has been adopted by her foster parents, Linda and Ken who are thrilled to welcome her to their family. Sweet Pea would like everyone who has followed her story to know she is in good hands now and not to worry about her. She thanks you for your support and kind donations which really helped out with her veterinary expenses, medicine and special feed. Last but not least, Sweet Pea would like to thank her friends Trudy Sattler of Pound Rescue and Dr. Chris Martens of the Fort Macleod Veterinary Clinic. These two special people made her rescue and recovery possible.
Thank you from Sweet Pea.

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