There used to be a commercial that ran on TV that had the tagline “Having a baby changes everything.”
It showed a woman giving a plump little baby a bath in the kitchen sink with the child laughing and smiling and the woman having the time of her life. Water was splashing everywhere and the commercial was shot in black and white, giving the viewer a feeling of nostalgia.
You know, it doesn’t matter whether it’s human or animal. This saying is completely true.
Having never had children of my own and giving my parents more grand-dogs and grand-cats than they would probably prefer, I’ve yet to raise a baby mammal of any kind (other than hamsters and other shelf pets many years ago).
Chickens, ducks and now more recently geese have been raised from hatches on the farm but never an animal that needed to depend so strongly on another to grow.
The puppies that were born a few short weeks ago, otherwise known as the “potatoes,” have definitely changed routines around the farm. They are learning to stand on all fours, trying to create “ferocious” growls (it sounds a bit like a muted coffee grinder) and some have even found their “bark.” Their eyes are wide open now, and suddenly, the kennel that has been their home for the past four weeks doesn’t seem large enough for their adventurous spirits.
The other animals on the farm have felt the surge of popularity of the tiny creatures as feed times sometimes are delayed due to needing to get the puppies into a playpen so they can have a bit more room to run about or the visitors that have wanted to just peer in on the snuggly cuddle puddle that the little ones create.
It is getting close to the time that the pups will be heading off to find forever homes, and I have to say I’m feeling a bit melancholy. All of the pups will be adopted through the Humane Society of Jackson County, and all will be given great homes.
That doesn’t mean I don’t still want to keep them as close as I can for just a little while longer.
Fostering animals is definitely a skill to learn. It does sting a bit when they leave, but keeping the mindset they are going to homes that will treat them with so much love and attention makes it a bit easier. Also, every animal that is placed for adoption means another in need has a place to stay while they wait for their turn.
In the meantime, I’ll be making sure the little potatoes learn as much about domesticated life as possible. Things have definitely changed.
Until next time…
Stephanie Strothmann owns Purple Shamrock Farm LLC in rural Seymour. Send comments to [email protected].