- 19/11/21 ~ Last week Murgatroid jumped into the next field to join the other flock of sheep Part of the stone wall
dividing the field had fallen down. Dale and Dale sheep farmer and the owner of the field managed to eventually round up Murgatroid and bring her back
then mend the wall. The fence on the road side needs attention as some of the posts are loose.. It is important that the boundaries are checked regularly.
A photo of one of the trees in Lady Mary's Wood.
- 07/09/21 ~ At the moment, George is doing well except he enjoys mountaineering and tends to scuff his foot! We have been contacted by a radio station and asked to submit a brief synopsis regarding the work we do. Will keep you informed.
Bulletin for the radio. The constitution of The Digglers Charitable trust consists of education and conservation.
The charity has assisted secondary degree veterinary students with bursaries since the
1990's (then under Veterinary Vouchers). The charity is featured on the RCVS website.
The Woodland Trust has provided 1600 trees to form woodland on the registered
smallholding in Saddleworth and recently featured on Channel5 The Yorkshire Vet. More
information can be gleaned on the website thedigglers.co.uk
- 06/08/21 ~ Yesterday, Matt the vet came to see George. The Yorkshire Vet film crew came as well. I also
wanted to see exactly what was going on in his foot since he had now had 2 lots of the strong antibiotics. The infection now seems alot better.
Matt cleaned George's foot and found a tiny pink spot at the bottom that has not quite healed and that is causing the problem and infection can get
recur. I did think of asking Matt to put a bootee on his foot for protection but this was not viable due to air needs to get to the foot to assist in
healing. Matt gave him another strong antibiotic that lasts 10 days and he has left 2 further doses. It is hoped that this will keep the infection at
bay whilst the healing process takes place. Matt will come back in 2 weeks to assess the situation but we are now more hopeful for a recovery and that
an amputation can be avoided.
- 27/07/21 ~ I called the vet David out this morning to look at George's foot as I wasn't very happy.
He confirmed that the infection has returned. He gave him some strong antibiotics that seemed to work last time that lasts
10 days. Matt will come next week and review the situation and give him another injection. Last time, George only had 2
injections, this time I have asked for a long course, at least 5 injections to allow the antibiotics to build up in his system.
If that does not work we go back to original concept of an amputation. Will keep you informed.
- 10/07/21 ~ Yesterday I lost one of the cats, Jolly Roger (2). He was well in his twenties.
He was 'my little chap' and will be sorely missed. Dale helped me to take him to Rossendale Pet Crem and we will
collect his ashes on Tuesday.
- 07/07/21 ~ Unbeknown to me, at the beginning of last week ,Joel and Dale,
the sheep farmers went up early in the morning to see the sheep and decided there was a danger of
fly strike so they sheared them and phoned to say they had been sheared. I was amazed that they
managed to get them all in. When I met Joel a few days later, I asked him how they had managed
it. Joel's reply was ' the power of bread'! On the way up they stopped off for a loaf of bread
and that did it!!!
- 05/07/21 ~ Yesterday the two sheep farmers came to vaccinate the crew. George,
of course was the most difficult to catch! Dale helped with the injections and managed to inject
himself and will not now suffer from worms or sheep diseases for the next 12 months!! Dale has
been an excellent help and as well as being the General Manager will also be a fully
fledged trustee. He is a credit to the charity. This week we are having a well deserved treat and
looking at some other animals at Chester Zoo. Needless to say, I will be checking Dale's pockets
before we leave!
- 02/07/21 ~ Matthew the vet came and looked at George's hoof and assessed his mobility. He was
very pleased in what he saw. It seems that George is growing a hard pad under his hoof amd that is protecting it from
injury and infection and therefore does not need an amputation at the moment. Matthew is coming back on a monthly basis
to monitor the hoof and that is excellent news. The TV crew spent about 3 hours filming.
- 25/06/21 ~ Matthew, the vet came and examined George and it will mean a leg amputation.
With George only being a small sheep with little body weight, he should be able to cope. He is booked into the
animal hospital a week on Tuesday and they are letting him take a pal with him. It will only be a day job.
Joel the sheep farmer has kindly said he would take him and collect him later on and also they will keep him
and pal on their farm for 2 weeks to recover. This procedure will be quite expensive so the charity will be
fund raising to hopefully cover some of the cost.
The Yorkshire Vet Crew have been in touch and are going to follow the latest event. They will be coming up to the farm on Thursday to film and discuss what is happening. They will film George being taken into the hospital and the operation and then they will come back in 2 weeks to see him going back into the field.
- 22/06/21 ~ I called David the vet out as I was not happy regarding George's foot as
it has been bleeding. The sad news is that the infection has returned to the other toe. He has given George
a very strong antibiotic and Matt will pop over on Thursday to see if there has been any improvement but we are
not hopeful. However, I have been in touch with Joel and Dale the sheep farmers and they have seen several 3
legged sheep and they manage very well. At the moment, George is already on 3 legs so a further amputation
higher up on the legs is on the cards we would have to change his name to Tripod!!! iF That is the case, I
will suggest George goes over to the animal hospital at Huddersfield for the op. Joel has volunteered to take him over.
Will keep you informed.
- 06/06/21 ~ I have re-named the girls Bonnie and Nessie and this morning found Bonnie with
her head stuck between the bars of the fieldside gate. It was another SOS for farmer Dale and he too had difficulty
in releasing her head. He eventually borrowed my car jack and prised the bars open and she ran off very relieved!
It goes to show that livestock need to be checked daily. I am now going to lie down in a darkened room and watch
cricket!!! If I ever get sectioned it will be down to me hebs!!!
- 05/06/21 ~ On checking over the sheep this morning I noticed blood on George's hoof. I
managed to get all the hebs into a stable but could not raise anyone to help get George in the penthouse. I had
no option but to let them back in the field. I contacted the vet, David was on duty but out on an emergency and
would have to wait at least 2 hours before he could contact me. I then managed to contact Dale the farmer and
he could get over in about 2 hours. Dale arrived with Joel and between them managed to get George and bring
him in. On examing his hoof they could not see anything wrong and there was no bleeding, so a quick spray and he
returned into the field. David phoned later on and I explained what had happened he then told me to keep an eye on
it and he would phone back on Monday morning. The blood must have come from somewhere hence I am keeping a watch for
fly strike.
- 10/05/21 ~ Matt came this afternoon and examined George. There is no sign of infection but he gave him an antibiotic just to be on the safe side. Although he had lost weight, he'd spent 3 months inside eating most of the time, now he is out in the field his weight is good. However, the remaining toe needed clipping as it was making walking difficult and Matt recommends a monthly trim. Farmer Dale comes frequently to trim Bumble's hoof so he could do George at the same time. Panic over!!!!
- 10/05/21 ~ I am not happy regarding George. Although he doesn't appear to be lame, he is lifting his leg that had had the toe amputation. Yesterday,
he got wedged under the bench and had to be pulled out, he may have caught it, however, I have spoken my concerns to Matt and he is coming out to see George tomorrow. I am
concerned that the infection may have returned.
- 01/05/21 ~ David and Matt with George from The Yorkshire Vet.
- 23/04/21 ~ We have not had any rainfall for 2 weeks and consequently the grass is not growing. There is no rainfall predicted within the next week so our sheep are having bales of hay in the field. Other farmers in the area are having to do the same.
- 13/4/21 ~ We are on episode 3 of the Yorkshire Vet.
- 24/03/21 ~ On Monday, Lisa the producer from Yorkshire Vet phoned to say they would be over at 1.30 to film George going out if he was ready. Dale the farmer had been to see him on the Sunday and after looking at his leg said he was ready for out. George was given a quick spray on his leg by our Dale and he held him whilst his leg was filmed to show how it had healed. It has been a long haul from the 4th January, George agreed and he is now enjoying his freedom. Lisa said the previous visits have already been edited so it will not be long before it is televised. That will then be my worry. I do not want lots of people coming round. Damian agrees and has consented to camp out and be the 'night watchman'!
A big thank you to all that helped with the extra work, the vets and the TV crew. I am waiting to see what next mischief George causes. We did not take any photos but will get screen shots when it is televised. Lisa's parting words, they have enjoyed it so much they'd love to come back! No, no, no George must not get into anymore mischief!!!!
- 10/03/21 ~ On Monday, Matt, David and the TV film crew arrrived hoping to film George going out into the field, however,
when David removed the dressing part of the scab came off and left it open. David and Matt were very pleased with the healing process but it meant
that Geoge would have to stay in a week or so longer for it to completely heal. He does not have to have another dressing and the vets do not have
to return. I shall wait until we have another sunny dry spell and off he goes. The film crew will return to film the big event!
- 22/02/21 ~ On Tuesday, David, the Yorkshire vet returned with the film crew to film George
returning into the field, This did not happen, on examining Geoge, David found there was no difference and the hoof
was still infected. I was given two options, to call it a day or amputate the toe. The first was not an option so
the toe would be amputated. On Thursday, David returned with Matt to carry out the operation. The TV crew returned
to film the amputation. The vets had done this op many times and it had been featured on the series but on cows llamas
and alpacas not on sheep as the cost of the op would out weigh the cost of the sheep. Matt knew George from the
poisoning incident. They did the op on the flat stable floor and to the delight of David and Matt there was gas
fire on!! The vets were wonderful, they gave George a mild anesthetic and a local on his leg. The op did not take
long and soon Matt was asking George what colour bandage he wanted!! He ended up with a purple one! By this time
George was coming round and stood up and walked over to the fire to get warm! After a minute or two he walked back
into the sick bay and started munching hay. No sign of a limp! The vets remarked they had never seen that before!
The vets were brilliant and David will return on Tuesday to change the dressing, meanwhile, Dale comes every day to
give him and antibiotic and metacam for the pain. The TV crew will return in 3-4 weeks to see George return to the
field.
- 03/02/21 ~ Dale's latest log.
- 14/01/21 ~
Saddleworth Independent
- 13/01/21 ~ In the bleak mid winter with the RAC.
- 11/01/21 ~ This morning David, the Yorkshire vet came to see George. He has decided in
consultation with Matt that it is not foot rot but due to the amount of poison he ingested that caused problems
with the lamini and thus caused the problem in his hoof. He said it had improved since he saw it last week although
there is still pus coming out. David flushed the area with antiseptic and gave him another long acting antibiotic.
He does not now need daily injections so I would like to say a big thank you to Dale the farmer that came every day
to administer the injection and the metacam. David has spoken to the TV crew and they will return with David to film
the out come. David anticipates it will be spring before George returns to the flock.
- 06/01/21 ~ George injured his leg 2 weeks ago. He was placed in the sick bay and the vet
prescibed antibotics and metacam for the pain. At the time it did not require a vet visit so the medication was left
for collection at the vet hospital Donaldsons at Huddersfield. Dale, a local sheep farmer came every day to
administer the injection but after 7 days it was not showing significant improvement and there was swelling in the
hoof region A vet visit was requested. I received a phone call from Donaldsons to say the vet would be arriving
shortly, I then received another call from the film crew from The Yorkshire vet to ask permission to come and film.
They then arrived with David the vet. George has a very bad case of foot rot that could be difficult to treat.
He was given a strong antibiotic that lasts 10 days but David wants to keep on with daily dose of the other
antibiotic along with the metacam. He also wants George to stay on site and Dale has kindly volunteered to do the
daily injections.
David will come back next week to assess the situation and if and when George goes back to join the flock the TV crew
will return to film George going back out.
The local newspaper has picked up the story and it will be in the next edition.
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