Righty

Righty – leader, father and protector. That’s our Righty.

Righty arrived in August 2011. He came from a sheep farmer on the outskirts of town. He was heard talking in the pub about two wethers he was going to take to the sales the next day because they were “useless”. A hand was put up, the words “I will take them” were uttered and the next day two scared, young sheep were standing in our yard. The farmer had nicknames for them, one was called, “Crazy Eyes” because he had some sort of neurological problem and the other was called, “Albert” because he was as smart as Albert Einstein. “Crazy Eyes” was renamed “Lefty” and “Albert” was renamed “Righty”. Lefty and Righty were inseperable, like brothers they were the best of friends. Both had been hand reared by the farmer’s wife as they had both been orphaned at birth. Life ambled on for these two soul brothers. New sheep joined the flock and Righty welcomed everyone with open arms and a protective nod, whilst Lefty looked them up and down and made sure they knew their place.

Lefty and Righty. Best Friends.

Lefty and Righty’s last photo together.

In January, 2013, we unexpectedly lost Lefty. He died one boiling hot afternoon. I found Righty calling for Lefty the next day so I took him around to where Lefty was and let him sniff Lefty’s body. He gently sniffed Lefty’s face and then turned to look at me. He looked at me with such sadness in his eyes as if to say “No? Please no”. The following weeks were incredibly difficult for our clever boy. He grieved terribly for his best friend. He had no interest in anything. He wouldn’t baa, not even for food. In time he got himself up again, but he has never developed another friendship with a sheep like he had with Lefty.

Righty grieved terribly.

In April 2013, two dogs entered our property and attacked our small flock of sheep. Righty was pulled down by the two Malamutes by his neck and his rump. We fortunately heard the attack because our elderly Jack Russell alerted us to it. Putting ourselves between the dogs and the sheep, we finally warded them off. Righty had extensive wounds all around his neck and on his rump. He was in a bad way. The vet gave him ten percent chance of pulling through. Dogs attacks on sheep are almost always fatal. Infection from the dog bites sets in incredibly quickly and most sheep die within a few days. We were determined to give Righty a chance. He had antibiotics and pain injections daily. He was sprayed with ointment every single hour to prevent any fly strike or extra infection enter his wounds. Our big, beautiful Righty fought through that horrific attack and is still with us today.

Righty the morning after being mauled.

Righty’s neck had to be completely sewn back together after the dogs ripped it apart.

These days, Righty is flock leader. He is the father figure to all of our other sheep. When someone new arrives, it’s always Righty who welcomes them and protects them from the head butts of the other flock members.

Righty meets Trouble.

Just as the sun disappears behind the hill, Righty walks around the property calling his family to come together for the night. The flock often spreads out during the late hours of the day because of their grazing preferences, so it’s Righty’s job, as head of the flock and father figure, to call everybody together as the dark sets in.

Righty with Wrinkles.

Righty is, without a doubt, a King of sheep.

Please don’t use my images without permission. All images are Copyright Tamara Kenneally