Lil Orphan Annie & Lil Bit & the Mountain Lion

Hi All,

In feline news, my sister and her hubby were visiting last week.  We were walking down the driveway and Tami (my sis) heard a strange whining shrieking noise.  I thought is was the baby at first, as she squeals at me, but apparently that was not the same noise.  While we were watching TV, Matt noticed Soldier locked on to something.  His behavior was enough to intrigue Matt enough to get up and look.  "Oh my gosh, there was a mountain lion out there".  Although he was sure of what he saw, we checked the surveillance camera, hoping that he was mistaken.  Unfortunately he was not, and the video showed a mountain lion hanging out and heading toward the baby area.  It appears to be a young cat, but his footprint was about the size of a large orange.  PTL that Matt stood up and put his hands and head to the window, because when the cat saw him, he turned and headed away from the baby area.  So we had to run to Lowe's and pick up "mountain lion proofing" for the outside "nursery stall".  If it isn't one thing it is another :)  Please say your prayers that we do not have a repeat incidence of what happened to DaBubbles.

Just wanted to give you a quick update on Lil Bit and Annie.  These two have become pretty much inseparable, except for a short time every evening when Lil Bit hangs out at the fence with DaBubbles.  This ritual also extends to Annie having her little hissy fit.   She will race around madly, bucking and kicking and making little screachy noises, stopping to rear up dramatically to show her displeasure.  She is so jealous when Lil Bit is paying attention to DaBubbles instead of her.  She will run right up to him and stop about an inch away and he completely ignores her.  So she will run around and rant and kick and buck some more.  It is quite comical as it is so very obvious that her little nose is out of joint.

The two of them sleep cuddled up, usually with their legs intertwined or nearly on top of each other, much like Mikey and Ikey did.  It was interesting, although kind of sad to me as during Janie's last days, both of these babies would stay close together as far away from her as they could.  If Janie was resting, Annie would want to go over and pound on her.  So we had to keep them apart.  I wonder if it was just jealousy or if it was because poor little Janie was not "viable".  It makes you wonder how young these little ones realize the need for "survival of the fittest".

Both Annie and Lil Bit have been having a few health issues.  We are still trying to get their guts "happy and working smoothly".  I think we are getting much closer.  Lil Bit still moves a lot like a newborn, and it seems like his little brain is taking a bit longer than normal to "wire itself", but he seems to be improving every day.  Annie is extremely feisty and gets her "manners lessons" every day.  Lil Bit is struggling with the whole halter, leading thing, although we did make great headway today.  He seems to be frightened or get nervous more easily than most babies if he doesn't understand something and it just takes him a bit longer to "get it".

We are missing Texas a great deal, but from all reports from his new mama Karen, he is continuing to thrive.  Running Bucket, the baby that we were so lucky to have hook up with a nurse mare down in Anderson also continues to thrive.  She is in a beautiful place with hundreds of acres to play on.

So that is the latest from Chilly Pepper - Miracle Mustang.  The former FABULOUS FIVE is now down to 2 babies who are still fighting to get on the "thriving list".    We appreciate your support, and if anyone out there has an enclosed trailer that would be good for picking up babies in bad weather and would like to donate it or help us out with the price, we really need one that we could use when the weather is bad.  Last time we picked up the 3, it was snowing like mad, and that was May 10.  Please remember that all donations are tax deductible and the better our equipment, the better we can care for these little ones.  God bless!


--
THANK YOU FROM ALL OF US!

Matt, Palomino & The Gang


Chilly Pepper - Miracle Mustang
Equine Rescue & More -
Rescue/Rehab Project LRTC

www.chillypepper.weebly.com
www.whmentors.org


P.S. Some pix of Annie and Lil Bit and the new "nearly lion proof" outdoor nursery unit, (we still have to work on the bottom)  complete with my new bed :)