We are heartbroken to share that yesterday, our sweet Izzy passed away. It’s hard to find the words for this one, but in our hearts, we know she has found peace.
A Hard Beginning
We rescued Izzy just shy of three years ago, and the condition she arrived in was heartbreaking. She was severely malnourished and neglected, with every rib and bone showing. Her teeth were so overgrown and sharp that she had ulcers throughout her mouth. She had developed pneumonia and was covered in bugs.
Izzy spent her first week in the hospital receiving nebulizer treatments before she could finally come home to the Sanctuary.
She had been through so much before she ever got here. But the life she built with us was about so much more than what she had survived.
The Best Kind of Friend
There are so many memories of Izzy we’ll carry with us, but one that will always make us smile is the day she realized her friend Foster was stuck in his stall.
Foster had broken his leg and was on stall rest. For the first few days, Izzy went out to graze and carried on with her usual routine. Then, one day, it suddenly clicked: Foster couldn’t come out with everyone else.
She came running back to him, and from that day forward, when the herd went out to graze, Izzy stayed behind to keep him company.
What a friend.
A Friend to the Loners, Too
left: Izzy | right: Daisy
Izzy also had a special friendship with Daisy, who tends to be a bit of a loner. The two of them even had their own little routine of breaking into soaked hay together. We have a video of them we hope to find and share on Facebook this week, because it captures just how sweet their friendship was.
And if you knew Izzy, you probably knew one of her favorite things in the world: belly scratches. She loved, loved, loved them.
These little quirks and quiet friendships are the things that make an animal unforgettable. Izzy had a way of making ordinary moments feel special.
A Beautiful Last Day
As many of you know, Izzy had been in and out of the hospital over the last two weeks. She was back at the hospital recovering, and yesterday, things were finally looking more hopeful.
She was more willing to walk. Her balance was improving. She was getting stronger.
She was doing so well that she even got to go out and graze in the pasture. The weather was beautiful, with that first hint of cooler air beginning to roll in. It was the kind of day we had been hoping she would have.
Later, after returning to her stall, Izzy suffered a seizure. A team immediately surrounded her and did everything they could to help. Despite their efforts, there was nothing more they could do.
They stayed right there with her, surrounding her with love and compassion as she passed.
Until We Meet Again, Sweet Girl
We feel in our hearts that Izzy was ready, and that her soul is finally at peace. We like to imagine Piper was waiting for her, and that the two of them are galloping together across big green pastures now. No pain, no worries. Just freedom.
We would love to spend time this week looking back on Izzy’s life and sharing more of the memories that made her so special. But today, we simply want to say thank you.
Thank you to everyone who knew her, loved her, cared for her, and fought for her. Thank you to the people who helped give her the chance to experience a different kind of life.
Izzy came to us having experienced so much suffering, but that is not the life she leaves behind.
She leaves behind nearly three years of friendship, green pastures, belly scratches, and a whole lot of love.
Rest peacefully, sweet Izzy. You were so loved.
