Eclipse
April 25th, 2020 Our sweet little baby goat Eclipse passed away on Saturday April 25, 2020. She had been recently sick and was brought back to health with the quick and thorough care of Dr.Lana Delaney and her team at Delaney Veterinary Clinic. Not only did they provide us with exactly what we needed when we needed it, on a Saturday, but they followed up with advice for future issues and came out to assist us a few days later when Eclipse was still showing signs of requiring more supplements. Eclipse was then separated from the goat trip with her mother and sister so that they could be together while she grew in strength away from the other goats. She recovered within a few days and was playing and eating special goat-approved supplements the day before she passed away which was her birthday. The exact cause of her death is unknown. She was laid to rest with her sister Starblanket who had died at birth 2 years ago. She was shy, very attached to her family and quiet. She was happiest when she was playing with her twin sister and frolicking by the pond. She is dearly missed by everyone at Dreamcatcher™. Her sister Nova and her mother Stardust paid their respects and are thriving despite adjusting to the change. RIP little Eclipse. You were loved by many. 💕💐🌈 |
daisy
January 10th, 2020 Working with animals is one of the best jobs I have ever had. They bring us such joy, fill our hearts with love and make us laugh uncontrollably sometimes. The camaraderie we share in working with them, caring for them and loving them is indescribable. They bond everyone who meets them instantly and it is this tenacious cohesiveness that holds us together in difficult times. We are facing one of those difficult times again. On Friday, our precious donkey Daisy, crossed over Rainbow Bridge. Although she was not ill in any way that we were aware of, other than a recurring abscess in her front right leg that was being treated, she did not appear well on Thursday night and was keeping to herself in the shelter. It was the first cold night of the Edmonton deep freeze and we didn't blame her for not wanting to venture out into the cold. When Jess checked on her the next morning, it appeared that she had not moved far from where she had been and she looked COLD. We got her into the barn and called the vets. The vets came out and took blood work immediately. They gave her warm fluids and went to the lab to get results. In the meantime, Mel had come out to assist Jess. When the vets called shortly after with the results and we were on the phone making decisions, Daisy suddenly died. She did not suffer and was with her loving companions Ceilidh, Moonshine, Mel and Jess. I was at an emergency visit to a friend in palliative care and before I returned, the complete core Dreamcatcher™ team was here with Daisy and her friends, helping in every way they could. Thank you Jess, Mel, Cara, Emily and Reesa. You are all amazing. We are very sad to announce this and to lose another beloved co-counsellor and friend. The vets think she may have had something for a while and did not have symptoms. They theorize that she may have been able to keep it at bay but when the cold weather came, she couldn't stave off the illness and the cold at the same time and so something gave. It took her life but she did not suffer long. For that we are grateful. We are also grateful to the Delaney veterinarians, specifically Dr. Jodie Santarossa, to our staff and volunteers who took care of Daisy and to all of you who loved her for the 15 or so years that she was here at Dreamcatcher™. We thank Sue McIntosh of Healing Hooves and her family for kindly giving us Daisy (Maisey) all those years ago. Most of all, we are grateful to Daisy as she gave her love to thousands of people, was always kind and gentle and helped many, many people to heal. Her sister Ceildih and brother Moonshine appear to be coping well and are managing to navigate this deep freeze so far. RIP Daisy. You are deeply missed. 💞🌼 |
Ruby
October 17th, 2019 Working with animals brings moments of joy and heartbreaking sadness. Once we have them, they are a lifelong commitment and their health and welfare are our responsibility, to the end. Our baby goat Ruby got very sick this week. Despite all efforts, she passed away peacefully at the Hastings Lake Animal Hospital on Tuesday night. She was heavily medicated for pain and did not suffer in her final hours. She was laid to rest with Buttons,Starblanket and Snow by her loving caregivers and team. the same team that helped bring her into this world. Ruby was sweet, loving, polite and wonderful and she will be greatly missed. Her mother, Wanda, and her brothers are doing well. Thank you Karen at Hastings Lake Animal Hospital - Dr. Karen Allen and everyone who took care of her and loved her throughout her short life. A student on a field trip asked me yesterday: “how do you deal with losing the therapy animals?” “The same way I deal with losing my family members and friends” I said. “I grieve.” Rescuing animals, living with animals, working with animals, loving animals requires full attention, sacrifice and tough decisions. Animal assisted therapy is not for the faint of heart. RIP Ruby. 💕💐 |
Trixie
March 21st, 2019 This never seems to get easier… Trixie brought so much joy and love to so many. Trixie helped countless individuals to come out of their shells, build confidence and self esteem, develop empathy and trust. She taught others about the importance of boundaries and building trust in relationships. Her little wheak wheaks were the highlight of the day for clients, volunteers, and staff alike as she chattered away at us, telling us how it is and how her day was. When she heard the opening of the “cookie” bag, she was sure to be the first one in line, squeaking up at you. Her sister Winnie, and brothers from other mothers MJDB and Jerry all gathered around her to say their goodbyes. Although it has been quite lonely without her sister, Winnie has been given a tremendous amount of support from everyone around her. Rest easy Trixie. You were such a cheeky, lovable little sweetheart. |
Bilbo
March 8th, 2019 February 19th marked a devastating day for Dreamcatcher™ as we lost our wonderful Pedro. Just 17 days later on March 8th, our sweet sheep Bilbo joined his mini-donkey brother from what the vets suspect was old age. Bilbo was just the best: always one of the first for a head scratch, hip scratch, bum scratch, any opportunity he could find for a good scratch and he would take it. He and Emma the Sheep were the best of friends. Always side by side, ready for a good lawn-mowing adventure. Bilbo loved to go for walks with clients and would stay with them as they sat and talked to him about their lives. Dreamcatcher™ is quieter now without his big belly "bah" to greet us. He helped hundreds of people and will be missed by everyone. |
Pedro
February 19th, 2019 Our mini donkey Pedro was donated to us about 5 years ago. He was a gentle, loving spirit who helped many people work through their feelings of anxiety, fear and not feeling like they could do things. Pedro was so little and always cooperative and patient. He encouraged people to succeed by waiting for them to figure things out and then doing whatever they asked him to do. His beautiful soft brown eyes were encouraging and supportive and he never said no to anyone who wanted to work with him. Pedro suffered from Cushing's disease and was on medication daily for it. Our amazing volunteers and staff made sure he got his meds regularly, even though he clearly did not like taking medication. We tried to give it to him in feed, oats, anything he liked, but he always rejected every attempt we made although in the end, he received his meds graciously and i think it made a huge difference in his health over the years. Pedro was very bonded to his donkey friends Ceilidh, Daisy and Moonshine. He was one of four in his family of donkeys and one of 7 in his equine herd. He was by far the easiest going and sweetest, no matter what happened. In the past two years, Pedro seemed cold all the time. He would shiver and go into the main shelter, out of the wind, when it was cold here. Someone always noticed and we would blanket him to help him with the wind chill. We often delivered hay to him when he would isolate in the shelter. We were not sure what was going on with him but thought it likely had something to do with the Cushing's. Last week, on Friday, he was shivering in the shelter. It had already been two weeks in the deepfreeze here in Alberta and so we thought he just might have met his limit with the cold. We knew we did. We put him in the barn for the weekend with lots of straw for bedding, feed and water and checked on him regularly. When he was not better, we called the vets. Pedro had something unknown and to save him would have caused him far more suffering. We chose to let Pedro be free from his suffering even though it caused ours. We laid our dear, sweet Pedro to rest and he went peacefully and gracefully. In his last moments, we thanked him for everything he has ever done for anyone here and that included all of us...staff, volunteers and especially the recipients of the Dreamcatcher™ program. We loved Pedro with all our hearts and this program will never be the same without his gentle presence. Rest In Peace Sweet Pedro. You were truly one of the most amazing souls we have ever known and we are so grateful to have had you as part of our family of love and kindness. You had qualities that I can only hope to one day encompass and you were one of my best teachers. |
Snow
November 17th, 2018 Our beautiful, young, gentle Snow llama has gone to Rainbow Bridge to be with her friend and past Co-Counsellor Mr. Spitzy llama and her friend and Co-Counsellor OJ sheep. Snow came to us about 3 years ago when her family got divorced and she was in need of a new home. She came with Emma sheep and spent some of her time living with her and some of her time living with Mr. Spitzy and the horses. When Spitzy died earlier this year (RIP Spitzy), Snow went back to live out her life with her Emma sheep friend and a herd of goats. New goats came to live with us this year to keep Wanda goat company as we had lost Joey goat (RIP Joey, my baby) last year. A baby goat was born from the new goats and Snow took on the role of Nanny with the new baby and his mommy. Snow was always gentle, always kind with people. When she had to be caught to do her feet, for shearing or veterinary care, she went along with whatever was asked of her with the utmost kindness. She was never angry, often cautious and always loving to her goat and sheep herd and her friend Mr. Spitzy. Snow was underweight this year for unknown reasons and the Dreamcatcher volunteers and staff worked hard to ensure she got extra supplements to put weight on for the winter to come. She looked healthy and happy and eagerly awaited her supplements when they were being delivered. She was never pushy, always polite and always appreciative. On Friday, she was suddenly showing symptoms of being in distress physically and upon examination by our wonderful West Wind Veterinarians, she was ill for unknown reasons. A host of medications were delivered and tried to alleviate her symptoms but to no avail. Snow was laid to rest yesterday and is no longer suffering. Thank you Dr. Carroll and Dr. Melissa from West Wind veterinary clinic for being available to us in our time of need and for doing everything you could. Thank you Emily and Jess for your help with her; Reesa, Rose, Jess, Danielle and Dale for your unwavering support and assistance; Mimi, Mel, Rose, Reesa and Jess for helping me make the decision and everyone who fed her extra and loved and cared for her in our time with us. She brought happiness, patience, gentleness and kindness to us, the animals and the Dreamcatcher children and youth. We loved her deeply and she is sadly missed. RIP gentle Snow. |
Mr. Spitzy
May 11th, 2018 Our gentle, beautiful, stoic llama Mr. Spitzy has reluctantly left us to join the rest of his herd who had gone before him to Rainbow Bridge. Mr. Spitzy was laid to rest on Friday May 11, 2018 here at his Dreamcatcher home of 15 years. Mr. Spitzy came to us as a donation from a wonderful lady, Cindy Gilette, who rescued him when he was 4 years old from a family who was going to take him to the auction where he likely would have met an ill fate. He was accompanied by our paint horse, Rain, who was also rescued by Cindy and he spent everyday of his life thereafter with her. Spitzy loved Rain and where she went, he went. He was a true protector and he never let his horses out of his sight, even though it was hard for him to graze all day long in the warmer seasons on his 40- acre home. Spitzy never complained about anything. He took everything in stride and did what he had to do, pleasantly and quietly. He worked with children, youth and adults in many different capacities and excelled at everything he did. He allowed many novice people to learn about themselves through learning about him and he taught people valuable lessons about their relationships with others. Mr. Spitzy was an excellent therapy animal. He was a teacher, a patient companion and an effective skill builder for humans. Spitzy was always kind and gentle and although he was more than 6 feet tall, he worked mindfully with children as young as 2 years old, being careful where he stepped, how fast he walked and ensuring they were safe when they were anywhere near him. He made everyone feel special and provided increased confidence and self esteem for thousands of people during his time at Dreamcatcher. Mr. Spitzy was 19 years old which is elderly for a llama. He stayed strong and battled through the long, cold winter but unfortunately developed dental disease and had difficulty eating, resulting in a deterioration of his health. Surgery may have been catastrophic and extremely intrusive for him in his old age and so we opted not to do it. Mr. Spitzy passed away peacefully on a warm, sunny day surrounded by his human colleagues and best 4-legged friends. We imagine him laying in the sunshine next to Buttons, Buddy, Kenya and Shimmle with Uncle Snee and Minty. We all loved him very much and he is deeply missed. |
Buttons
March 29th, 2018 It has been a tragic week. Our beloved Buttons had a freak accident on Monday. She fell in between some trees and could not free herself or get up. I found her and we think she was there possibly for an hour. The team responded immediately to the emergency and the 5 of us got her out. She was stiff and sore but doing okay until Wednesday when we were trying to give her pain medication and she was resisting. To help her take a break, she was moved to turn her away from the fence but unfortunately, her injury in her back was too much to turn and she fell again. Much was done to try and get her up, to save her, but it was to no avail. To end her suffering and allow her dignity, she was vet-assisted to pass and is now at rest. She was the leader of our herd, our very best therapy horse, our best teacher, our colleague, our beloved friend and my baby. She was 19 years old, much too young to go yet. She was strong and healthy and happy. Buttons was the second horse here at Dreamcatcher™ and was with us from the very beginning, 15 years ago. We will all need to learn to function again without her as she was an integral part of our herd and our team. She helped hundreds of people understand horses and understand themselves. She was an exceptional teacher and a solid healthy leader for her herd. We loved her dearly and deeply miss her. My Dear Buttons Some would say oh she’s just a horse But not me of course She was so much more to so many people She touched lives, opened hearts, mended hearts and souls When I seen her with children I was amazed Cause with me she could be half crazed She could be testy, she could be sweet But to be around her was such a treat She has now crossed over and gained her wings She will be sure to do great things Therapy was her game Buttons was her name She will be missed down here; we know she’s in a better place With no more pain And everything to gain Watch over her until we meet again R.I.P my dear Buttons Written by Rosemarie Craig April 2018 |
Joey Jr.
Oct 2017 Joey Jr. had such a funny personality, which makes his passing very hard to cope with. He was always happy to see any human enter his pen and with his playful headbutts, it was easy to spend all day with him having fun. He helped us to realize that goats are just as playful as dogs, if not more than! If Joey wasn’t in the mood to bounce around or take turns on the teeter totter, he was always happy to get all the snuggles and pets you could offer. Our love for goats has continued to grow and Joey was a big part of that growth. Therefore, we truly miss Joey Jr. and will forever have him in our hearts. |
Buddy
June 12th, 2017 Our 32 year old horse Buddy, went to be with his friends Kenya and Uncle Snee. He was an athlete and a cowboy's horse, an amazing warrior and gentle soul throughout his lifetime and was dearly loved and cared for by his previous owners. In his older years, he sustained a back injury and lived with a sway back. When he came to Dreamcatcher™ he had difficulty maintaining his weight as his teeth were wearing down and he had trouble properly chewing hay. He also appeared to be in a great deal of pain from his back injury. Buddy's age and life's work were taking a toll on him. His loving family kindly found him a place where he could continue to give wholeheartedly, which he did with every loving piece of himself, right up until the end of his life. Through the guidance of our Veterinarians at WestWind Vet Clinic and the love and kindness of our amazing staff and volunteers, Buddy had his pain managed and his weight maintained through supplements and medications. Buddy was the first horse to greet everyone and was so gentle that even 2 year olds felt safe with him. He helped many people overcome their fear of large animals and built the self esteem and confidence of anyone who was near him as his loving nature made every person feel special to be with him. Buddy fought the good fight and was strong and stoic until the very end. He went with grace and dignity, the same way he lived. We loved Buddy and miss him terribly. We will forever hold him in our hearts |
Sunny & Cocoa
April 4th, 2017 Sunny was found by a boy who lived in a foster family several years ago. She was sitting on his front lawn when he and his family were leaving their home for Church one Sunday morning and he loved her instantly. The family tried to find her rightful owners as she was obviously a domesticated pet but to no avail. They allowed the boy to keep Sunny and she lived in their home for a year. The boy became very busy with his responsibilities and so could no longer care for Sunny. He was a past attendee at the Dreamcatcher™ program and so he asked us if we would take his beloved rabbit so that she would have a "good life and take care of kids." We took her. We had Sunny for approximately three years and we think she was not young when we got her. Sunny worked with Seniors on our mobile Fuzzy Face Express program, visited children in schools where traumas had occurred, provided stress relief and comfort to homeless youth and provided safety and hope for traumatized and abused children. She was quiet, accepting, loving and kind in all her interactions and helped people to feel good, if only for the moments they held and pet her. Sunny also provided hours of search-related, crawling-under- buildings and scouring-the-forest work for our admin staff Jess, helper Dale and countless volunteers when she managed to escape her shelter several times. Oh, Sunny! She loved to roam. Sunny will be dearly missed. Thank you to everyone who took care of her. |
OJ
February 26th, 2017 OJ was given to us by the Lakech Ecolodge program and lived with us and his son for the past almost 2 years. OJ was very sweet and gentle. He loved alfalfa cubes and head scratches and was very snuggly on occasion. He lived with Emma and Bilbo and spent his days munchin on hay and laying in the sun. OJ was loved by many and will be sadly missed. Thank you to everyone who helped to take care of OJ and make his last days happy and healthy. RIP OJ. |
Frank & winnie
Sep 2012/Apr 2014 Frank and Winnie joined our coop just before Thanksgiving of 2011. We unfortunately had to say goodbye to Frank in September of 2012 and Winnie on April 25, 2014. Winnie was outgoing and curious and loved people. She was always where the action was. She loved being the center of attention and often spent time in the office with the staff and clients. Many times, when people weren’t looking, she jumped into vehicles uninvited either through the door or through the window! She loved to meet new people and was a lot of fun to be around! Whenever you talked to Winnie, she talked back and she had a lot to say! Her best friend was her husband Frank, who was a bit shy and completely devoted to Winnie. Frank was very gentle and curious about people and he usually approached them respectfully. He loved Winnie more than anyone else and they lived happily together. These turkeyswere both very sweet and they were great at helping people overcome their fears. They were also excellent at teaching people about emotions and always lightened the mood with their silly antics! Both of them are deeply missed everyday. |
Sheba
January 5th, 2016 Our beloved long-retired 20 year old therapy cat Sheba passed away peacefully on January 5th, 2016. Many of you did not know her as she was a stay at home cat after the practice moved but some of you will remember her from when you attended therapy sessions inside the house. Sheba was beautiful, sweet, kind and always made sure everyone got some lovin by jumping from lap to lap whenever there was more than one person in the room. Sheba helped many people disclose their pain and find comfort by snuggling up to them and purring softly whenever she felt someone needed a little bit extra. Sheba lived a long and happy life and was only ever to the vet for her spaying as a kitten. She was healthy and appeared to enjoy every waking moment she could spend with a human who would love her. Thank you to everyone who helped to look after Sheba in my absences and to everyone who showed her love and kindness. Sheba was a precious gem and her intense and genuine love is missed everyday. |
Jake & Winter
April 2016 Jake and Winter would always bring happiness to the farm, especially when Jake would open up and display his beautiful feathers for Winter! They stuck together and never left another behind. Winter unfortunately passed before Jake, who took the loss very hard. Knowing that Jake was lonely, we made the decision to transport him to an aviary where he was able to live the rest of his life surrounded by 9 other peacocks! Jake and Winter were known as “love birds” and “soul mates” who undoubtedly left a wonderful mark on Dreamcatcher™. |
Uncle Snee
June 2015 Uncle Snee was one of the our most curious and affectionate Llama. He was donated to us in the Fall of 2003 and at first he was afraid of humans. With much love and kindness, Uncle Snee came to trust us and became a delicate social butterfly. He loved taking walks with the herd but also loved his alone time. Uncle Snee was protective of the horses and acted like a big brother or an Uncle to the little alpacas. With people, he was sweet, gentle, loving, and completely hilarious. He followed people around, sniffing their hair and walking directly behind them wherever they went. When they turned around, he did too and pretended he wasn’t following them. His therapeutic speciality was teaching socialization skills, patience, tolerance, and how to overcome frustration and never give up. He also would help people understand the impact they might have on others if they are too uptight or anxious. All in all, he was a very effective co-counsellor, and he is deeply missed. |
Joey Sr.
June 2016 Joey Sr. was donated to us from another program and was the first goat to ever come to Dreamcatcher™! We often called him “Houdini” as he was quite the magician, always sneaking his way out of multiple fences, no matter how many times we had them fixed! He arrived with his sheep and donkey brothers and was very gentle and kind to everyone around. Joey brought joy to many, especially the younger children, in which he taught to laugh, play, and believe in themselves! |
Axle
March 31st, 2016 Our loyal, faithful 14 year old retired therapy dog Axle passed away in his sleep on March 31, 2016. Axle was the best therapy dog and best friend anyone could ever hope for. Whenever anyone was sad or angry, Axle went to them to help. Sometimes he wasn't treated so nicely in these moments but he never complained. He stayed by that person no matter what happened and offered his calm, quiet strength until they could overcome their intense emotions and regain their control. Axle survived 4 surgeries throughout his lifetime and in the end, the arthritis from these events took a toll on his mobility. Although he could still walk, he required assistance to get up but again, he never complained. Other than his mobility, Axle remained relatively healthy up until he died peacefully in his sleep. He was loved and cared for by many when he needed help and especially in my absences. Those who made his life a better place in these times included Dale and all members of the Dreamcatcher™ staff; Jess, Delia, Dani, Alisha, Reesa and Olivia as well as many of our volunteers. Jess went above and beyond to ensure he was comfortable and that all of his medical, medication and comfort needs were met. Thank you to everyone who cared for Axle in his time of need. His big brown loving eyes that he practically spoke with and his puppy nature will be with us for eternity. He will be forever missed. |
thorpuppy
December 24th, 2013 Thorpuppy was Axle's adopted brother. He was cute, playful, spontaneous, determined, focused and smart. Thor was donated to the Dreamcatcher program and his previous owner told us that when he was a puppy, his mother dog attacked him, fracturing his skull and injuring his brain. He had reconstructive surgery at three months old. In the beginning, Thor had a hard time believing he could live peacefully with chickens. After minimal training, he graduated from chicken harasser to chicken babysitter. He and Axle would take great care of their girls, protecting them from all danger. Thor's therapeutic specialty was in teaching healthy assertiveness. With his brain injury, his love for fetch forced people to draw the line on how much they could take as he would not stop once he started. He was so adorable and responsive that it was easy to help people grow healthy boundaries around him. Thor loved his job and excelled at it while providing excellent comic relief by playing by himself with his rock/stick/ball, whatever he could find, in the pond/woods/snow, wherever he could play! Thor was respectful and kind and loved to meet new people, especially the ones who would play with him. Not a day goes by that we don't think of this amazing puppy-head and his brother Axle and how they started the program. |
BOB |
Minty Man
January 2011 Minty AKA “Minty Man” Minty came to us from a nearby llama farm. The day he arrived, he was surrounded by children from a treatment centre. They got to witness Minty being brought to his new home here at Dreamcatcher™ by his cool ride, a mini van! The children couldn’t believe their eyes when Jeanette opened the door, and out came a brown and white llama! Minty gave Jeanette a big hug when he stepped out of the van and delivered more hugs to the children! Minty Man was very gentle and sweet, and super handsome. He lived a long, great life and he demonstrated grace, patience, and tolerance to hundreds of people. He also helped them learn how to build safe and long-lasting relationships! Minty Man will be dearly missed. |
Louis
December 2014 Louis was one of the very first therapy animals to make their home at Dreamcatcher™. Louis came to the farm with us from the city and we had him since he was about 3 months old. He was a very big, snuggly, temperamental kitty! Louis knew his boundaries and if they weren’t respected, he told them how he felt! He often worked with those at his discretion, but those who got to work with him, loved him wholeheartedly. Louis loved to chase butterflies and squirrels and enjoyed the outdoors. When it was time to come inside, he would sleep on one of his loved ones. Louis lived a long, wonderful life, and was deeply loved and cherished. |
Kenya
Kenya, who reached the age of 27, was rescued by our amazing staff member and lead dog trainer Danielle Clark, when each of them was 14 years of age. As Danielle grew into an adult, she and Kenya were separated for a few years physically but never in their hearts. Kenya survived many mishaps in her life and was a beautiful, strong, gentle soul who came to live out her last years here at Dreamcatcher™ as a therapy horse and where Danielle could spend time with her daily. Kenya was a very sweet, calm, and loving horse who brought joy to many, especially the younger children. Whenever Kenya heard her name, she’d come running and neighing for her favourite treats: apples and licorice cookies and in return, she gave back cuddles and hugs to everyone. |
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Dolly & zen
2009 Dolly had the kindest heart, who made an impact on us at Dreamcatcher™ immediately after meeting her for the first time. Dolly loved to socialize with everyone who was around and would often follow behind throughout the land. As kind as she was, Dolly was also a funny sheep! We found ourselves smiling and laughing during the time we had spent with her. Dolly came to us with a baby lamb called Zen. Zen took on her mom’s funny genes, as she would often find herself in sticky situations! She would stick her head inside buckets and lunch bags whenever she could and most of the time, needed a friendly rescue! Zen was a very loving sheep that taught us to slow down, breathe deeply, and feel safe. Dolly and Zen left many unforgettable memories for us at Dreamcatcher™! |
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