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.
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