What have I done?

I spent the first two or three days back in Ghana lethargic, disinterested and unmotivated.  Porks said I had the "Bantama Blues". Whatever it was I'm not used to it and it wasn't pleasant.  I unpacked the suitcases and piles of groceries slowly and had cat naps in between.

We had the von Beneckes around to watch the rugby and for a braai on Saturday afternoon and as usual the family's company was delightful.

The von Beneckes, Buddy and I went for about a 10km walk on Sunday morning and stopped off at one of the dams on the plantation to cool off.

Emma tried to persuade Buddy to swim, to no avail.

Our two little starfish enjoying the coolth!

Deon and Roz.

We had walked so far and Buddy was so tired that on the way home in the truck he could not keep his eyes open and literally kept nodding off.

We enjoyed that outing so much, that we went back in the afternoon with tubes for the girls and a picnic for all of us.

I had been considering having Buddy neutered but the thought of driving for 4 hours to Kumasi, waiting in line for many hours and then the 4 hour drive back again was daunting and I put it off.  Besides the fact that to obtain an available vehicle and driver from the company for my disposal is difficult and unrealistic.  Having to rely on other people, not even family, for transport is one of the many challenges we have to overcome.

We all, even the the Ghanaians, were worried that with Buddy's gallivanting, he was going to get run over and I also didn't want to be the owner of an animal that contributed to the over population.  I was then told by the locals that he could be "castrated" in Kwame Danso, so we made arrangements to get him to the vet yesterday morning.  We had no idea that there was a vet in Kwame Danso and apparently there isn't.

Isaac took Buddy off while I waited at the house, not being brave or strong enough to be subjected to the things that I might be subjected to there, and how pleased I was that I hadn't gone. We had starved Buddy since 6.30pm the night before in preparation for his operation and he woke up hungry and thirsty and confused as to why I was not being my normal generous self.

Off he went at 8.30am and two hours later returned, bleeding profusely, having had no sedative, no stitches, no pain medication and no Mommy with him. The insides of his scrotum were hanging out and he couldn't lie still he was in so much pain. When he did, he just lay there and shivered in shock.  I am so traumatised and I am not the one in agony.  I know that "When in Rome" and all that but I cannot get over this! 

Two of the least gruesome pictures.

I covered him with a towel to alleviate the shivering. 

Isaac had to go back to Kwame Danso in the afternoon so I asked him to go back to the vet and get pain medication for Buddy.  He arrived back to tell me that the vet had said "The dog will be alright."  So I googled 'pain medication for dogs' and was informed that I could give a baby aspirin every twelve hours which seemed to help a little.  

I let him sleep inside the house last night as I felt he needed to be near us for comfort and I woke up early this morning to see how he had fared during the evening.  I was greeted with a tentative little wag of his tail and pain but gratitude in his little soft eyes.  He is still refusing food but managed to lap a little water.  The bleeding has virtually stopped but the meat hanging out of his scrotum has ruptured and he is still in huge agony and discomfort. When I try to observe the injury, he cries softly and takes my hand gently in his mouth. Fortunately I had brought some veterinary anti-biotic spray up with me for Buddy's other injured friends in the neighbourhood and have used that to spray on his wound.

Gandhi said, "The greatness of a nation can be judged by the way its animals are treated."

Oh, what have I done?
I have been balancing on a knife-edge emotionally since I have been in Ghana trying hard to find the positives and look for the good in all situations and working through all the challenges but I feel that this has started to tip me over the edge and I just want to go home!  

Porks is trying to organise a vehicle to take us to Kumasi tomorrow to see the vet there, so I'll keep you informed.  I just had to share Buddy's pain, and my sadness, with you all knowing that your warm and caring love out there will get us through this!