Angelo, the lamb that won many hearts
(de Nederlandse versie van het verhaal van het lammetje Angelo is hier te lezen, la traduction en français vous pouvez lire ici)
A volunteer from Farm Sanctuary took the lamb
Angelo under her wing and tells us his story:
"Approximately
one year ago (September 21, 2009) we got a phone call from a lady who witnessed the unloading of sheep from a truck. When the truck was empty she saw there was a dead lamb left behind in the truck. The owner said," Oh well, the lamb must have been born on the way." But then she also saw a live lamb. The man showed no interest in
the animal and when we asked if we could find the mother he only laughed: "All these sheep are destined for a live stock market, to be ritually slaughtered on the spot."
The
woman took the little lamb home and did her best to look after it until she realised that little lambs become big and that she could not keep a big sheep.
We expected the worst when we drove to the woman, because the lamb was fed with baby milk in stead of colostrum. Before arrival we quickly went into a K-mart in order to get some diapers. Because we couldn't find the right size straight away, we had to ask for some help. Imagine what they though of us: three women with dirty clothes looking for diapers for a big baby.
When the doors of the truck opened and we saw the little lamb for the first time, we all started to laugh and simultaneous gave shouts of endearment. We looked into his two jet-black eyes and the creature looked very healthy and alive.
For six weeks, I looked after Angelo like a 'mother'. He has changed my life. I have always loved animals and was always very committed to help them. To me, they are innocent creatures to whom you can't say no, if they cross your path and they need your help.
And when this call came, of course I offered to join and fetch him. I gave him the proper milk straight away, which he drank eagerly. It was a 4 hour drive back to the sanctuary and he was lying in my arms, asleep. From that moment he must have decided that I was his mum. That night he slept with me to keep him warm and so that I could give him a bottle. And then the bond between us became even stronger.
Like people, animals need more than only food and warmth. It is really important for them to feel they are loved and that they have their own place, especially the weak or sick animals. So that's what I did for Angelo. And I got so much in return. I got a shadow and he cheered everyone up with his wild antics and jumps. The many visitors to Farm Sanctuary were endeared by his appearance.
In their natural life sheep remain with their mother. So they have more than many other mammals a very strong bond with their mother and recognize her out of thousands. They can easily distinguish her voice. Angelo had a very hard time when I could not be with him. He was looked after by baby-sitters but was overjoyed every time I came back to him.
When my volunteer work came to its end which was also about the same time that Angelo was going to his adoptive family, it was decided to let him get used to the separation. I still do not know for whom this separation was the most traumatizing, for him or for me. He cried for hours on end, crying and restlessly pacing. In the beginning I joined him and then he immediately calmed down and fell asleep in my arms. But of course by doing this we only delayed the final separation. So it was decided that there would be no further contact. It was terrible to hear him cry until he was hoarse. By now he had a friend, Michael, and the other people of Farm Sanctuary regularly went to see him. After two days he calmed down. Before I left I said goodbye to him and we spent some time together laying in the grass in the sun. It was a perfect moment.
I would have taken him with me if I could. And I hope I will have the opportunity to see him again. It appears that sheep are able to recognize their families even after five years of seperation.
Angelo has made such a deep impression on me and has taught me what I really already knew: that animals are very sensitive and emotional beings and they are very flexible and have an ability to trust even after a terrible event. I decided then that I had to change my life and I had a duty to help these animals. I tried to tell as many people as possible about my experiences and showed the photos so that they could see that behind each face hides a story. I also decided to resign from my job to work for a vegetarian organisation. By convincing people to eat vegetarian, you can save many lives.
Now for quite some time Angelo has lived with Michael with his adoptive parents. They tell me he has become a very special sheep and that he is very attached to people and wants to be everywhere. He has been in several magazines and on TV. Because he was so popular Angelo has got his own fanpage on facebook. Here you will find the most recent photo's of him. And I of course continue looking after animals in need with all my heart. I hope I have been able to show you that Angelo is not just a black sheep with beatiful black eyes. Angelo has changed many peoples' views on animals and some have completely renounced the eating of meat. "
