(Janice Ridondo) – I’m not much for putting how my day went or what I had for breakfast on Facebook, but I do have some amazing animal-hearted people who really get the beauty and trueness of animals and I want to share what happened today….
Every morning, no matter how I feel, no matter if I’m full of energy, or feeling like I’m on my very last breath, I wake up and I go outside to a herd of creatures whose memories of their former lives has faded away and I love them and I nourish their little bodies. Today was different…
I had been out of town for a couple of days and Beyonce wasn’t feeling well. You need to know that Beyonce is one of the Core Four when I started doing this over 11 years ago, because I knew people needed an option when looking for help with their pot belly pigs.
I found Peppermint Patty 2-days-old freezing and dying at RC pig farm. Brought her home. Joey saved her life – and when she was too big and went to live in Moapa Valley – I raced out to Pahrump and rescued Andrew Jackson.
And then, just a few months later, I received my first rescue phone call – the very first one.
I had just watched 60 Minutes the day before about a woman named Beyonce with a voice that only God could have blessed her with. And it stayed with me as I drove out to Floyd Lamb Park to pick up this big black pig with four little piglets. The story of that woman stayed on my heart. And as I got this squeaky sweet pig home, I realized she didn’t OINK and she didn’t GRUNT. She would literally serenade you with these beautiful sounds that reminded me of Beyonce singing.
So of course we named her Beyonce.
She lived 11 wonderful years as Andrew Jackson’s main squeeze, but we lost her at 4 am this morning and my very best friend in the world, Bob, and two men who I love like my own family, Jeremy and Andrew, gently and lovingly brought Beyonce to her final resting place on this beautiful sanctuary we are so blessed to have.
Tiffany, the absolute light and love of my life, looked at me this morning with tears in her eyes, and said: “I’m glad she waited for you to come home.” We laughed and we hugged and I said “Beyonce did that for you, you big chicken.”
Our friend Josephine lost her amazing feline companion Sydney this last week and there was a lot hurt to go around today. But we never ever lose sight of the fact that there are so many more in need, so many more to love, and to hug, and to rub their butts!
So we dry our tears and we soldier on. And on this day we give thanks to all the brave men and women who protect our country; all of those who lost their lives for our freedom; to all of those who still continue to fight – and we are so grateful for the animals who give us a reason to get up every morning and do it all over again.
I love you Mrs. B. You will never be forgotten. Andrew misses you.
Janice owns and operates Windy’s Ranch & Rescue in Moapa Valley, Nevada
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