He cried all night

Although at just one day old, it could be argued that nothing had the time to become familiar. With instinct running deep across all species, sharing a house with a human, a cat, a dog, a pig (and a very loud snoring one at that) and a goat is not something that traditionally comes with the territory. 

The source of his angst could have been the Facebook message that announced his arrival to the world: “No colostrum had. Needs TLC or will euthanise”. But we know that is not the case, for even little lambs “see” the menace of social media – thankfully though, his saviour did not. 

It could have been for the many other wee lambs who were not so lucky as he. For this is the reason we often want to cry.

No, the reason little Pintara cried all night was for his beloved mumma. The one he would never see again. And nothing seemed to be able to dissuade him from this.

Not his bottle of life-enhancing colostrum; however, it did provide a temporary stay of his crying. Alas, it was short-lived. Nor could snuggling in bed with the warm embrace of The Lady in the Hat to soothe him ease his pitiful cries. 

Born the smallest and weakest of triplets, Pintara seemed the natural choice to be left behind. But even in that somewhat cold Facebook message, there was a tincture of hope, for he was given a chance. A chance that kindness saw. 

And seized. 

And ferried him to sanctuary. 

With that sleepless night now behind us, dear little Pintara is more accepting of his lot in this world, as his new lamby buddies have been so accepting of him. There is no doubt that bouts of sadness still grip him now and then, but that grip is becoming less and less. 

A speckly-faced, White Suffolk cross lamb is Pintara. One who, at such a tender age, brings out the best within us that just wants to keep him safe and protect him from any harm. One who proves true power is found in form and not size.

Holding his 2-plus kilos of vulnerability in our hands, we are again struck with awe at the resilience of his kind. A feeble puff of wind could take them out, yet, strong like steel they become. Miraculously, so many manage to surmount the fiercest of odds: both the physical ones presented to them in the barren paddocks where they are born and the written ones in unjust animal protection laws. 

It really is enough to make one cry all night. But we cannot let this all end in tears, for that will help no one and will change nothing. Remember that change is a door that opens from the inside. And we can be that much-needed change for little lambs simply by changing our perceptions to see animals as friends and not food, and choosing compassion over cruelty at every opportunity.