Sonny

Arrival Date:  2016

Farewell Date:  May 22, 2024

 

Sonny came to us as part of a large seizure case with the County of San Diego Department of Animal Services in 2016.  He was one of five horses that came into our care from the case.  He was accompanied by Bumper, Blondie, Rudy and Ray, all of whom were subsequently lost over the years.

Sonny is our first draft horses.  As a Belgian, Sonny is a big boy.  In order to give him as much space as possible, we began turning him out with the burros during the day soon after he arrived at the ranch.  Initially the Burro Brigade scared Sonny and he kept to himself.  But it is hard not to love our burros and Sonny was no exception.  Pretty soon he was just one of the gang.  It wasn’t long until he was living with the burros full-time.

 

 

Farewell Date:  May 22, 2024

 

On Wednesday, May 22, Sonny was lying down during feed time, indicating a colic.  We administered meds and consulted with Dr. Manring.  The medication seemed to increase his comfort.  But on Thursday morning, he was back down.  Dr. Blanche arrived very quickly, but it was apparent that Sonny was having a very bad colic.  His stomach was full of reflux.  An exam indicated that his colon was displaced.  We were hoping it was an impaction, not a strangulating lipoma or intestinal stone.  We administered IV fluids and waited.  When Dr. Blanche returned a few hours later it was clear that Sonny had gotten worse.  He now had a fever, which could indicate his gut was leaking.  His heart rate had increased significantly.  It was time to let Sonny go.

Once Sonny started living with the burros fulltime, he developed a very special friendship with burro Jill.  We lost Jill in October 2021, a very difficult loss for Sonny.  Fortunately, Jack, the other half of “Jack & Jill,” was there.  Their shared grief bonded them.  While Sonny definitely stood out among the burros, his big, loving heart made him a standout across the ranch.  He was in almost every holiday photo celebration.  During our 2016 Halloween event, Sonny played the role of Grand Wizard.

Sonny was always such a healthy, happy boy.  His colic came on so suddenly and so severely.  Initially, we were focused on helping Sonny fight and then the focus shifted to letting him go surrounded by as much love as possible.  While we know that he has been reunited with Bumper, Blondie, Rudy and Ray, and most especially his Jill, it does little to ease the pain of having this special boy taken from us far too soon.  Sonny will be missed, always and forever.