For the Love of Sydney
For the love of Sydney, this coming Tuesday it looks like the wee lamb will lose his right front leg in a bid to save his life. A decision that has not been made lightly, but one forced by necessity. And human neglect.
Sydney came under our radar and into our hearts late last week after a kind heart was alerted to his plight. Realising what they chose to do next would determine whether he remained lost to human kindness or saved by it. Thankfully for him, they chose the latter.
So just how did the world turn so unkind for Sydney?
The first unkindness came from a societal view that the animals we have labelled “farm” do not deserve the same protections as the animals we have labelled “pets”. Born into the harshness of winter, Sydney sustained a terrible injury to his right shoulder. The brute force of this trauma was sufficient to fracture his shoulder bone, shooting pain through every inch of his body as it severely compromised his ability to move.
Adding insult to an immature immune system, bacteria that had entered via his umbilical cord set up camp in this vulnerable area, causing further pain and pus to accumulate. Unable to overcome such adversity, each day saw Sydney one step closer to death.
With a natural and well-founded fear of humans, dear Sydney is still coming to terms with our kindness. But the good news is that he is!
For when cradled in our loving arms, that fear he once held is expelled with a gentle sigh, as we are no longer seen as a foe. Looking deep into our eyes, it is as if he finds our friendship there; as his eyes light up, he nibbles on our chin to see what it tastes like.
A sweeter and more endearing lamb one would struggle to find.
So with all of our collective fingers and hooves crossed for Tuesday’s surgery, we look forward to Sydney frolicking in all of those promises we have made.
In a world where humans have so many opportunities to do so many things, yet little lambs such as he have few, surely showing kindness for the meek should be one of them. If for no other reason than for the love of animals like Sydney.