First published in the Angel Animals Story of the Week on March 5, 2005.  Reprinted with permission from Angel Animals Network.

FARM ANIMAL FRIENDSHIP
By Christina Louise Dicker

Our old Suffolk ram [a male sheep], whom we called Rambo, was due for retirement and needed to be separated from his ewes, so we placed him in the front paddock with Ginger, our huge sow [a female pig]. This arrangement suited me well, since the front paddock was right beside the house, and I would be able to observe them from the kitchen window.

At first, Ginger and Rambo were wary of each other and remained a respectful distance apart. However, as the weeks wore on, these two very different creatures began to grow more familiar. I enjoyed watching their friendship develop. They would graze together on the lush pasture, and when they'd had their fill, they would lie together in the sunshine. There were many occasions when I would see them resting side by side and I would sneak out with my camera, hoping to capture the moment.

After a few months, Ginger and Rambo became more obviously affectionate toward each other. The only time they chose to be apart was in the evening when they would each retire to their respective sheds to sleep for the night.

The seasons changed. The days were warm and pleasant. One particular day, I had spent a busy morning in the kitchen. Glancing out the window from time to time, I noticed that the pig and the sheep were nowhere to be seen. That afternoon, my husband and I went out to check on all the animals and this was the day we discovered how strong the bond between Ginger and Rambo had become.

Inside the sheep shed, Rambo's body lay still and lifeless -- old age had finally caught up with him. A couple of feet away, Ginger lay quietly watching over the body, reluctant to leave her friend alone. Ginger had remained at his side since his death, which must have been several hours earlier.

It was a sad sight to behold, yet it struck me as having enormous significance from an educational perspective: If we lower our defenses and learn to trust a little, we offer our relationships a chance to grow. Eventually we may find that love has no boundaries.

The pig and the sheep were a fine example.

BIO:
Christina Louise Dicker lives on a four-acre property near Victoria, Australia with her husband and their many animal friends. She enjoys songwriting and has recorded two songs promoting animal welfare. Christina's story, "The Persistent Princess," was published in ANGEL CATS and another of her stories, "The Quail Offered Hospice," was published in ANGEL ANIMALS.

SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT:

When have you defied convention and chosen an unlikely friend? What could animals teach about ignoring "natural" differences and just loving?

Allen and Linda Anderson
Angel Animals Network - Where Pets Are Family
www.angelanimals.net