For the past few weeks on our property we’ve had a chicken with a phlegmy, body-wracking cough and a chronically limping dog.

Poor Wendell has been on three different vet visits and undergone multiple x-rays of his stiff leg. Some were taken while he was unconscious from heavy-duty (and costly) anesthetics, all to see if he was a candidate for an eye-wateringly expensive reconstructive surgery to remove cartilage from his shoulder.

The chicken? She’s in the compost pile.

Did we even consider seeking out medical treatment for her? Not for a second. It was easier to simply prevent her from infecting the rest of our flock than go in search of a medical professional willing to look her over, so out she went.

%

%

%

%

%

%

%

%

%