We were so touched by this story about Francesca at Safe Harbor Ranch. Truly such an honor to be able to attune this dear little one. Here’s her story:
Francesca is a shetland female sheep who was born a mile from here at a neighboring sheep farm. Her mother suffered a ruptured uterus and had to be taken immediately to surgery after Francesca’s birth. Her mother survived, but did not then recognize her baby. So Francesca was bottle fed by the shepherdess and a multitude of children who did 4-H stuff at that ranch. Francesca had to sleep in the bed of the shepherdess for several months as she had to be bottle fed every few hours. She wore a diaper during those weeks and followed her ‘mom’ around the house, preferring her indoor company to that of her fellow sheep. Francesca became a ‘house sheep’. I remember being at that house during that time and seeing so many kids handling Francesca that I thought she looked very weary and confused. She began to bond with the dogs too….saw herself as one of them
. The dogs were all Pyrenees guards for the flocks. At a certain point, Francesca was so used to being around the dogs, and had no interest in being with the sheep, that she followed the dogs out past an area where she should not have gone. One of the dogs either attacked her, or tried to pick her up and put her back where she should have been..or something else attacked her. Nobody knows for sure. She was found seriously injured but survived….with a huge leg wound and broken thigh bone. The shepherdess called me then and said that Francesca needed a quieter place to live…where she could maybe learn to be a sheep. After a few days of healing her wound, she brought Francesca to me. Poor Francesca! She was very very unhappy away from her shepherdess and her dogs. She was so lonely and longing to be in my house that I called the shepherdess in despair. Francesca would just stand at the gate and call for me….she had no interest in her sheep companions or the lovely heated barn provided for them ! It just so happened that another sheep at her former ranch had just been injured while eating from a feeder. She had suffered a broken leg. The shepherdess thought that maybe if she brought the other sheep to me, Francesca would have somebody that she at least recognized to comfort her. She said the smell of the flock might calm her down. Sure enough it did. The broken legged sheep became ‘Sophia’….(who has one of the most beautiful fleeces I’ve every seen). She and Francesca became fast friends and Francesca finally starting learning to be a sheep. It has been 5 years and Francesca is well assimilated into her flock. And Sophia healed beautifully too.HOWEVER, she still shows me that she would return to being a ‘house sheep’ in an instant! She still has no fear of dogs (a dangerous thing), follows me to the gate when I leave the sheep pen and spends too much time on her own. She sits just apart from the flock, although near enough for protection. She has adjusted to so much..and has experienced so much more than a ‘normal’ sheep. Here is sweet Sophia on the left, and the precious Francesca on the right. Francesca never grew to normal size due to her orphaning. Last summer she had a respiratory infection that cleared with antibiotics. She is healthy now. Very independent and brave.
. The dogs were all Pyrenees guards for the flocks. At a certain point, Francesca was so used to being around the dogs, and had no interest in being with the sheep, that she followed the dogs out past an area where she should not have gone. One of the dogs either attacked her, or tried to pick her up and put her back where she should have been..or something else attacked her. Nobody knows for sure. She was found seriously injured but survived….with a huge leg wound and broken thigh bone. The shepherdess called me then and said that Francesca needed a quieter place to live…where she could maybe learn to be a sheep. After a few days of healing her wound, she brought Francesca to me. Poor Francesca! She was very very unhappy away from her shepherdess and her dogs. She was so lonely and longing to be in my house that I called the shepherdess in despair. Francesca would just stand at the gate and call for me….she had no interest in her sheep companions or the lovely heated barn provided for them ! It just so happened that another sheep at her former ranch had just been injured while eating from a feeder. She had suffered a broken leg. The shepherdess thought that maybe if she brought the other sheep to me, Francesca would have somebody that she at least recognized to comfort her. She said the smell of the flock might calm her down. Sure enough it did. The broken legged sheep became ‘Sophia’….(who has one of the most beautiful fleeces I’ve every seen). She and Francesca became fast friends and Francesca finally starting learning to be a sheep. It has been 5 years and Francesca is well assimilated into her flock. And Sophia healed beautifully too.HOWEVER, she still shows me that she would return to being a ‘house sheep’ in an instant! She still has no fear of dogs (a dangerous thing), follows me to the gate when I leave the sheep pen and spends too much time on her own. She sits just apart from the flock, although near enough for protection. She has adjusted to so much..and has experienced so much more than a ‘normal’ sheep. Here is sweet Sophia on the left, and the precious Francesca on the right. Francesca never grew to normal size due to her orphaning. Last summer she had a respiratory infection that cleared with antibiotics. She is healthy now. Very independent and brave.Here’s what Francesca shared:
Francesca said Francesca has a story to tell but that’s coming later. Now for the healing energy story. Francesca really marvels at all the wonders this can do and help do. Francesca works within with the healing then immediately sends it to Sophia. Sophia is the recipient of masses of healing energy. Wonderful to share these healing gifts all around. Francesca likes working on all the different things here in Francesca’s world. Mom always gets Francesca’s healing and anyone or thing passing by Francesca will be rewarded with this healing gift. Francesca feels Francesca now has more purpose here at home to help others.
From Mom:
I just read everything this morning. Thank you so much for sharing such wonderful
messages from my animals. I am so happy to hear that Otis is happy and enjoying
his life, that Irene has found her real purpose and that my Francesca, the complicated
one, is discovering herself.
messages from my animals. I am so happy to hear that Otis is happy and enjoying
his life, that Irene has found her real purpose and that my Francesca, the complicated
one, is discovering herself.
With all the attuned animals all around me, and literally on all sides of the house, I
have been feeling a circle of energy and peace at the ranch. When I send Reiki to
anyone, I ask them all to join me.
Comments from FB:
Diana Tootell I love sheep SO much!! Would love to meet them both:)
Reiki Fur Babies Right? Amazing story . Francesca is a sweetie !!
Brandie Younce Oh my goodness! I love them. I felt sort of like Francesca in the dancing and skating world so I get it, Francesca!
Reiki Fur Babies So cute right? Somethine so very special about Francesca.