Farewell Finn

[Nanno]

We laid our precious boy Finn to rest this afternoon. We don't know what caused his decline, but he was losing weight throughout the spring and looked unthrifty. He went almost totally off feed about three weeks ago and just faded away. Three vets couldn't find anything wrong with him and unfortunately we weren't able to do a full necropsy. It's possible he developed abomasal ulcers but we'll never know. He lost his position in the herd last fall and it never set well with him. He became rather depressed and distant from the other goats and he became slowly less active and eventually less interested in food as time went on. Blood and urine analysis showed nothing remarkable, chest x-rays revealed no tumors, and there were no problems in the lower digestive tract. Unfortunately we were not able to get a necropsy of the stomachs, so if it was ulcers we'll never know. We're just devastated that he died this way. At 10 years old, he was simply too young. He was so strong just last fall, and he carried the lion's share of our gear in Utah. He was such a splendidly beautiful goat, and so sweet and gentle with everybody. There are no words to describe how much we're going to miss him. He spent a lot of the last few days with his head in me or Phil's lap. He loved snuggling and I'm going to miss his bright, eager expression. He was always the first to come up for treats or loves, and he firmly believed that every visitor to our property came here just to see him personally. I never worried that he was going to smack a kid or poke somebody with his magnificent, branching horns. Finn was always a gentleman. I don't believe there will ever be another to equal him. He was one-of-a-kind. A true G.O.A.T.     

   

[Taffy]

I'm so sorry for your loss. Finn was a beautiful goat and excellent packgoat ambassador.

[Missy]

Oh I am so sorry, it is heartbreaking he is gone! He was aways so handsome and noble, he truly was an amazing goat! I know you are going to miss him terribly and I will be praying for you during this difficult time.

[Nanno]

Thanks you guys. We miss our buddy so much. We have nineteen other goats still running around and yet the place seems empty without Finn.

[dragonmaker]

I’m so sorry for your loss. Finn was a magnificent goat.

[Saph]

Oh dear Nan & Phil, I am so sorry to hear this sad news. I feel so fortunate to have met & hiked with Finn. What a beautiful, intelligent & exceptional boy he was & what adventures you shared! May the memories, stories, & many photos & videos comfort you. You are the best parents a goat could ever wish for & I hope that somewhere Finn & his buddy Sputnik are locking horns in a forever green pasture--Irene

[Nanno]

Thanks Dragonmaker and Saph. It's been a hard week. We did not expect to lose this guy at such a relatively young age when he's always been so strong and healthy. I realized that his recent vet visits were the first in his life. Finn never had to see a vet except to get his CVI's for leaving the state, and he always passed those with flying colors. He was looking thin and weak at the Rendy but he still had enough spark to get into mischief and hassle the other goats on our hike. It feels crazy that we had to put him down just three weeks later. Counting my blessings, I'm glad he didn't seem to suffer. He just stopped eating and faded away, but he never behaved as though he were in pain. He became very, very weak to the point where we knew it was just a matter of time. Life no longer brought him joy, and even bringing up the little bit of cud he produced seemed to sap all of his strength, but he didn't act like an animal in pain.

I'm also grateful that we were able to say goodbye, and we made a few wonderful memories toward the end. We went to the Rendy, which really chirked Finn up for as long as it lasted. Then we took Finn and Pongo to the July 4th celebration in Cuchara and walked them in the parade. Finn ate plenty of candy and got loads of affection from everybody. We know he had a grand time that day even though he was also very tired. I took him to the vet in Pueblo on July 9th. He seemed on death's door the night before so I brought out a horse blanket and some extra straw and I spent the night with him in the shed in case it was his last. I rushed him to Pueblo next morning, and I was afraid the ride would be very hard on him in his weakened condition, but despite the heat Finn seemed to really enjoy the ride. He perked up considerably and his eyes, which had begun to sink the night before, filled back out. He ate several carrots, some french fries, and picked grass and weeds at a park that day. Next morning I took him with me to the saddle club arena while I taught riding lessons. There are two younger kids in the family who don't ride and they spent the hour picking weeds and grass and flowers and hand-feeding them to Finn. He lapped up the attention.

   

Finally, on Friday morning Phil and I took Finn to the Rye Park, which is a large, quiet wooded area. I set up my hammock and Phil got out his chair and we read books and hung out with Finn near the creek all day. We stayed for six hours. Finn spent a lot of time with his head in one of our laps. We knew that if he didn't eat anything that day, what with all the lush bushes, trees, weeds, wild roses, and other delectables, then it was hopeless and we would have to let him go. The only thing he ate was a granola bar, and he didn't quite finish it. He acted like he really wanted to eat it but it didn't taste good to him any more. He reminded me of my dad near the end of his battle with cancer. Dad wanted to eat, but he had no appetite and any food he tried to choke down tasted terrible. When the appetite disappears and every kind of food tastes bad, it's often a sign that the body is ready to cash in. We saw the writing on the wall but letting go is so hard. We will always cherish the memory of that last wonderful day in the park where it was just me and Phil and Finn.   

   

[IdahoNancy]

He was a gift. I am so glad he came to the Rendy's so some of us could meet him. You and Phip were great caretakers to Finn.

[Nanno]

Thanks Nancy. We're in Utah right now, enjoying 2 full weeks of goat packing. We just spent the past week in Ferron with Herb and his goats, and this week it's just Phil and I with our goats in Escalante at the old bed & breakfast we've always loved. Cuzco stayed here several times, as did Finn and Sputnik on their first trip to Utah in 2015, and again in 2019 when we got lost in Death Hollow. This is our first trip in many years without Finn and it feels different, but we're discovering a new appreciation for Sonic and Scout, who have always lived in Finn's shadow. And we also have our up-and-coming little guys, Pongo and Gandalf, who are best buddies with each other and extremely people-oriented. One thing is for sure: Without Finn our herd is remarkably peaceful. Everyone shares the trailer with hardly a squabble. The boys lay down nicely with each other and share space and hay bags. Sonic can sometimes be a bit bossy when he gets tired, but he doesn't demand his own separate everything like Finn did. My buck Pest has been a marvelous influence on our herd and on our genetics. He's in charge but he's not bossy or aloof. As long as the other goats respect his authority, Pest is quite gentle and kind to all of them and allows them to share his shelter, his food, his space, and his friendship. He always lies down with the other goats and rarely hits anyone. It has set a good example for the others and they get along better now than they did when Finn was king. Finn was a wonderful companion to people and we may never again own his equal in that regard, but he was not so fond of other goats and he had a tendency to be jealous when we paid attention to anyone but him. I've been hoping that this trip to Utah is rejuvenating and gives us a newfound appreciation for our other goats, and so far I think it's accomplishing that. It's hard to let go of a goat so dear as Finn, but we still have so many blessings in the others who share our lives and we don't want to miss out on that by not being able to let Finn go.

[Tater74]

I am so sorry.