Dory

The Love That Endures the Darkest Night

Some bonds are so profound, they become an anchor for everyone who witnesses them. The journey of Dory and her daughter, Bubbles, is a testament to the enduring power of maternal love, resilience, and the quiet, persistent work of healing.

Dory, named after the delightful Disney fish for her light-hearted, joyful spirit, came into our herd as one of our most beautiful souls. Her energy is here to remind us that life goes on, no matter what.

When she was old enough to breed, she gave birth to Bubbles - a filly-named soul whose bubbly character perfectly matched her mother's lightheartedness. Mother and daughter look very much alike and share an extremely strong bond. Even today, Dory’s unique call for her Bubbles can be heard across the whole big garden.

The Silent Promise (October 2023)

Their bond was tested in October 2023, during the devastating illness that swept through our herd.

It was one of the first nights of the drama, around 9 PM, and we were in the midst of heartbreaking energy, administering aid and working desperately to help the suffering. I turned around and saw them.

There were Dory and Bubbles - intertwined, cuddled, and huddled together. The love of a mother - so deep, so strong, and her little one trusted her entirely.

Dory, herself one of the goats who was not doing too well, held her baby close, her confidence and wisdom a silent promise to Bubbles that she would pull through.

In that moment, everything snapped back into focus. I said to the keepers, 'This is why we do what we do, against all the odds.' It was the greatest reminder of the love we had poured into the herd, the acknowledgment that we were dedicated to saving not just lives, but the love that binds them.

Today, two years later, you can still find them cuddled up and intertwined, a living picture of safety, trust, and enduring support.

My Personal Healer and the Battle for Resilience (2024)

Dory’s lightheartedness was a gift to us, too. She became one of my most consistent personal healers. During the agonizing time of the eviction notice in 2024 - after the terrible losses and facing the monumental task of separating the herd alone - Dory was always by my side the minute I stepped into the goat garden. She was my daily energy booster.

When the non-believers suggested I sell the herd, it was Dory, along with Anna, Nala, Popcorn, Chai-Latte, and others, who infiltrated my mind with possibility, love, and energy. She pulled out the old energy of the day, the memories of fights and discussions, and gave me the light-heartedness and resilience to manifest a new home and keep my herd.

Like all my healers, when the work was done and we moved to the new farm, Dory distanced herself. She knew I didn't need the full power anymore. But even today, when a stressor is affecting me more than I realize, Dory will come rushing toward me, giving me the energetic support I need before my mind even registers the full impact.

She is a constant reminder that we never have to carry our burdens alone.

The Silent Grief and The Path Forward

This beautiful, light-hearted spirit was shaken to its core a few months ago when the herd suffered the devastating shock of the poaching incident. When Pagani and Cozy were killed inside their sleeping quarters, the entire herd was rattled.

For the first time, Dory’s light-heartedness came to a screeching halt.

She was shocked, and for nearly two weeks, she lost her voice. The constant, joyful calling for Bubbles, the greeting she would always give us—it was gone. She was reserved, frightened, and ungrounded. It was heartbreaking to witness her suffer.

She is finding her voice again, but it is not the same. It is quieter, weighted by experience. But this too is a lesson: we never go back to the "old self." Life and its lessons change us, and the goal is not to retrieve the past, but to integrate the wisdom of the experience. Dory is teaching us how to rebuild joy and trust after profound trauma.

She is my constant reminder that life goes on, and that love - even a quieter, more resilient kind - endures.

I am eternally grateful for my light-hearted healer, Dory, and the enduring promise she made to her daughter.