The story of Samson, who was born 3-18-2000 at Carol Holder's farm and
died January 5th, 2010 almost 10years old, just 2 days after Dede the horse....They were very close friends Dede and Samson.
It has been the hardest to write Samson's memorial...and I apologize for this delay.....but you will learn why soon.
Samson, was full of life, from a young neutered male, Nubian goat, when
I adopted Samson, and Cutie together... at a very young age approximately 12 weeks old. Cutie, was a month younger,
however, "watched" out for Samson, early in their lives together...When Ben and I first brought Samson, the Nubian baby goat
home with Cutie, the Cashmere goat....Samson, was on his mother too long, and "wouldn't "get off" and finally was pushed away
from his mother...Cutie, was the "runt" of the litter, and had to be bottle feed initially.
Both goats, when they arrived at The Gress Mountain Ranch, played
and ran and even jumped on top of the barn roof, over 50ft in the air...and walked on top of the roof. Kathryn called
the vet, Dr. Arlin, to alert him, that the baby goats were on top of the roof barn.....Dr. Arlin reassured Kathryn that this
was goat behavior, and that they would come down...They did indeed come down from the roof safely.
Samson, loved to sit and lay in the sun, with his head in the sky, or in
his feeder bathtub, where all the hay was stored...Samson, would call out in his loud "Nubian" voice, saying, "Don't forget
about me...I'm here"......Samson, took over for Rambo, when Rambo died, as the leader of the pack, and as the PR Therapy Goat
at the ranch.
Samson was so friendly and easy going....except with the donkeys,
especially JoJo....JoJo, the one time was pushing at him, and Samson, with his "strength", ie, the name, went under JoJo's
belly and threw him down the hill. No one messed with Samson, anymore! And if they did, Cutie, came to the rescue,
especially as Samson got older, in August 2009. Then it was that Samson was diagnosed by KG and then the vet, of having
CHF, and heart failure...... Samson, pasted his one year anniversary of having heart disease.
But, Samson, wanted to live, and he did indeed, eating and taking Dede's
grain, and she would let him do it too! Samson, did a last "therapy event, in October 2009, at the Walnutport Canal
Festival. Samson, just stood there and let all the people pet him. Everyone was marvelled by how easy going and
big Samson was at that time. Samson greeted all the people at the ranch, and was a parade goat, was at all the events,
Samson, did it all and was everywhere as a grand representative for TGMR!
Now, comes the hard part,,,It was about November till the end of
his life...that Samson, started to have trouble walking around....Samson, still ate well, still drank, did all his bodily
functions, but walking was getting more difficult...His front legs were plagued by severe arthritis, common for big
goats. Kathryn had started Conroprotect and it helped for awhile. Kathryn knew the medication was very expensive,
$90.00 for a small vial...but Samson was worth it.
It was Christmas Eve day, Miss Sylvia, a devoted "angel" volunteer came
over and Miss Mia, a junior volunteer, came to put on Samson's new fleece coat for the cold winter.....Samson, with great
difficulty wore the new coat, and made it over to the other pasture with the his herd of animals. Samson, was the leader,
with Dede, and couldn't be without his group. That was the last time, that Samson walked.
The rest of Samson's story is a great decline....Kathryn had Dr. Arlin,
come out to evaluate Samson on December 26th, 2009, DX, possible "deer tic" syndrome, stroke, a tumor at the spine, neurological
deficit.....We tried all kinds of treatment even steroids as a last resort...but nothing worked. Samson, was confided
to a stall, with Pearl and Leroy Piggy on the other side as "roommates." Samson, called out for his herd. "I'm
here, don't forget about me." ...but could not see them...I let Cutie visit, 2x, and she smelled something different,,,and
"walked away" from Samson.
Samson ate well, apples, goat grain, hay, water, but could not walk,
even the front legs were now going bad...Kathryn many times, would pick up Samson's by the back just to get him to stand...Samson
tried to walk he wanted to live.........It was then on Tuesday, January 5th, that Dr. Arlin came back for another evaluation.
Kathryn knew the story, and what was to happened, and had informed many of the volunteers, and even arranged for Samson's
burial.....that week.....
Samson, had the will to live,,,,HE wanted to live.....not die!
That makes this story so hard to bear.....but I didn't want Samson, to have to suffer more....He actually was not suffering
except for not walking and not being with his friends....Dr. thought euthanizing was the "right thing to do."
I cry with big tears as I write this....I knew it was too, but how
do you euthanize someone, Samson, who wants and tried to live... Samson tried with all his might to walk, and ate on his last
day...He even fought Dr. with his upper body strength and knocked the syringe with the "overdose of meds" in it on the ground.......
I cared for Samson, and did not want his to suffer for 1 or 2 more weeks,
with bad effects which would have occurred from not moving around....
This is why this was so hard to write this memorial for Samson.....I didn't
want you to suffer Samson, you were so special......
God Bless Samson......in goat heaven across the rainbow bridge.......We
love YOU Samson...
Written by Kathryn on March 1st, 2010
