Remembering Sandy

It has taken us a little while to share this properly, but we needed some time.

A few weeks ago we lost Sandy, our beautiful emu girl, and if we’re honest it has taken some time for us all to get our heads around it before finding the words to tell you. The animals here are never just animals to us. They are the reason we get up in the morning, the reason we keep pushing forward when things are difficult, and very much part of our lives and hearts. When we lose one of them, it hits us really hard, and sometimes we need some time to process the loss before we feel ready to talk about it more publicly with you.

Sandy had only been part of the Brockswood family for a short time but in that time she became a very important part of life here, not just for us but for Malcolm too.

Many of you will remember Malcolm’s story. For several years he had been on his own following the loss of his long-time companion Edwina. Emus are funny birds in many ways - independent, intelligent, and full of personality - but they are also animals who can really benefit from companionship. Watching Malcolm living as our lone emu was always something that sat in the back of our minds, and we had hoped that one day we might find the right bird to share his space and his life with again.

Sandy arrived at Brockswood with a story of her own. She, too, had ended up living alone after struggling to get along with the other emus she had previously lived with, and so in many ways the two of them arrived at that meeting point in life from very similar places. Introducing emus can sometimes be unpredictable. They are large birds with strong personalities and very clear opinions about who they like and who they don’t. We took things carefully and slowly when Sandy arrived, preparing ourselves for the possibility that the two might simply decide they weren’t interested in each other...

As it turned out, we needn’t have worried at all!

From the moment they met, it was clear something had clicked between them. Within a very short space of time, they were rarely seen apart. Sandy quickly became Malcolm’s constant companion, and Malcolm hers. If one wandered off to explore something new, the other would inevitably follow. Watching that bond develop was very special for us, and something we know many of you enjoyed seeing as well.

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Sandy herself was a lovely, calm presence around the paddock. Female emus have a bit of a reputation for being rather opinionated at certain times of the year, particularly during the breeding season, but Sandy was always one of the more laid-back residents here. She settled into sanctuary life beautifully, quietly becoming part of the rhythm of daily life alongside Malcolm.

She also had her own little quirks that made her very much Sandy. One of our favourite things about her was how much she loved the water. Sandy was a real water baby, something that always made us smile and something that really showed off her individuality. Summer was without question her happiest time of year, when the paddock was full of showers and opportunities for a good bath. Seeing her happily splashing around or standing under the spray was one of those little everyday moments that the team here loved to watch.

https://video.wixstatic.com/video/24fe3c_f34a9d3494474a1aa32542766703d0fa/1080p/mp4/file.mp4

A true water baby!

Those are the kinds of memories that stay with you, which makes what happened next all the harder to come to terms with.

A few weeks ago, Sandy passed away suddenly. One day she was here with us, behaving exactly as she always had, and the next she was gone. After veterinary investigation, we now know that Sandy had been suffering from egg peritonitis, a condition that can occur in egg-laying birds when material from a developing egg enters the abdominal cavity instead of passing normally through the reproductive tract. Anyone who keeps chickens may already be familiar with the condition and how quickly it can take hold.

One of the challenges with birds is that they are prey animals by nature. In the wild, showing weakness can make an animal vulnerable, so many birds instinctively hide illness extremely well. They will often continue behaving completely normally until a condition has progressed much further than we could ever see from the outside.

In Sandy’s case there were simply no warning signs. She and Malcolm had been behaving like a broody pair, something we had expected as part of the season and something that gave us no reason to think anything was wrong. It was only afterwards that we learned what had been happening, hidden from view in the way birds so often manage to do.

Losses like this are one of the most difficult parts of caring for animals. Even with experience, constant observation and veterinary support, nature can sometimes take a path we simply cannot see coming.

What brings us some comfort is knowing that Sandy’s last year was spent somewhere she was safe, cared for, and able to form the bond that she and Malcolm clearly shared. Seeing Malcolm happy again after so long on his own meant the world to us, and Sandy played a huge part in that.

We know many of you will be wondering how Malcolm is doing. He is coping, but it is clear he does miss having another emu around him. While we know that no bird could ever replace Sandy, we also know how much Malcolm thrives when he has the company of others. With that in mind, we are speaking with others about emus who may be in need of a home in the future. As always, any decisions will be made carefully and with Malcolm’s wellbeing, and the wellbeing of the other birds involved, at the heart of them.

Sandy may only have been here for a short time, but she left a mark on this place that will stay with us forever. And in many ways, the story of Malcolm finding companionship again will always be part of her legacy here at Brockswood.

Sweet dreams, Sandy xx