When Actions Speak Louder Than Words

Both ears, or more accurately what remained of them, were stripped bare of their outer furry covering, leaving quite literally a bloody fleshy mess in their wake.

Such a frantically frenzied attack had seen razor-sharp talons rake deeply down the little fellow’s back. Bermuda’s tail too did not escape the wrath of the hungry bird of prey who almost claimed his life. The fierce predator though, denied of his quarry, had to settle for the just the tip of it.

Bermuda’s tail that is, not his life.

For his life, we found, was touched in other ways that “traumatised” comes close to describing. We felt this most intensely as Bermuda was passed to our loving arms. Cuddling his almost inanimate body close to ours both for warmth and security, his eyes were glazed whilst his chubby little body trembled.

As we feared the worst.

And whilst surgery was required to remove the tattered remains of his ears and close the gaping wound at the tip of his tail, and salves were applied to ease the pain caused by his bodily wounds, it was addressing the trauma that his “way-too-young” body held, that caused us the greatest concern.

Knowing that the body indeed keeps the score, whether human or non-human, only time will tell just how deep little Bermuda’s scars run as he makes his way back to the world. And whilst it is only natural that Bermuda is experiencing such a strong emotional reaction in addition to the physical ones following such a terrifying incident, we too know that the body has an innate capacity to transform.

And heal.

We know that each and every one of us can be touched by trauma; we know too that we do not have to be condemned by it.

Little lambs included.

“Resilience”, we have found, is a word that sits closely with animals as they find their path back from trauma. Indeed, it has been in the days that have followed Bermuda’s arrival that we have been stunned by just how far he has journeyed down this path. His body no more stiffens at our touch, as he no longer isolates himself from his little buddies. His steps, which were once shuffled and few, are now bright and gay. Even a little lamby gambol sees him sprightly jump in the air at the prospect of his bottle.

But what has guided us most through those days is the unshakeable belief that our actions towards our beloved Bermuda, as with all those afforded animals, speak louder than words.

A poignant reminder to us all to always ensure they are kind and not hollow ones.