For many people, the value of an animal is determined by the appearance or the work it can do, so much so that if it does not meet certain standards, it is judged useless and discarded. This is the case of Ruby, a female Australian shepherd Kelpie who was destined for slaughter by her owner but who, thanks to the intervention of an association, was able to start a new life, also discovering the true vocation of she.
He is about to end up run over, his mother saves him
For many people, the value of an animal is determined by the appearance or the work it can do, so much so that if it does not meet certain standards, it is judged useless and discarded. It is the case of Ruby, a female Australian Shepherd Kelpie who was destined for culling by her owner but that, thanks to the intervention of an association, he was able to start a new life, also discovering his true vocation.
Ruby had been purchased to look after a flock of sheep but, after a phase of training, the man had judged her unsuitable for the task, establishing that she should be killed. To save her from a doomed fate were her big and very sweet eyes, which prompted those who wanted to kill her to entrust her to the care of a Melbourne-based association specializing in collecting abandoned or culled farm animals: the Edgar’s Mission Farm Sanctuary.
In July 2009 Ruby arrived at the Edgar's Mission farm, an area of over 62 hectares of land where the animals - sheep, lambs, pigs, dogs, cats, chickens, cows, ducks, horses, geese, rabbits, turkeys… - live together, finally free, followed with care and attention by the staff.
Over time, the dog has lost the shyness and distrust that characterized her, regaining trust in humans and being particularly loving towards other animals. Her attitudes were so kind and affectionate that they prompted the leaders of the association to entrust her with a particularly important task: the welcome and care of newcomers.
So, as a professional nurse, today Ruby takes care of frightened and often injured animals, giving them pampering and attention and helping them to regain their strength and become familiar with the new environment.
Thanks to his role, Ruby has now become an institution on the farm, so much so as to accompany the staff even on the occasion of meetings and public presentations: a great satisfaction, for a courageous dog that someone considered not worthy of living.
Lisa Vagnozzi
Photo Credits: Edgar’s Mission
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