Anita M. Spacek| The Daily Record
All you have to do is step outside, look at the flowers and trees ready to bloom, feel the sun on your face and breathe the fresh, crisp air to realize that spring is here.
And nowhere is spring more noticeable than in the rolling hills of the Amish farms that dot the countryside in north central Ohio.
Plow horses are readying the moist earth for a bountiful crop to feed man and beast; newborn foals, calves and lambs take their places beside protective mothers; and Amish farmers attentively care for the land and their animals.
They treat the animals like members of the family, said Dr. Gregory Roadruck, a veterinarian who makes regular visits to the Amish farms.
Roadruck makes his house calls in a pickup truck that is outfitted for just about anything.
One of four vets in practice with the Orrville Veterinary Clinic Inc. who specializes in large animal care, Roadruck travels the countryside tending to the animals on Amish farms.
"The Amish have no problem accepting modern technology in terms of vet care, Roadruck explained.
Many calls are routine: pregnancy checks, post-partum checks, herd vaccinations and, occasionally, surgery.
The farms have the usual array of animals: cows, pigs, horses, chickens and the occasional sheep. Dogs and cats also take their place in Amish life as companion animals.
The farms under Roadruck's care typically have a small animal population. Smaller farms may have only one or two horses and a milk cow; the largest farm has fewer than 50 cows.
Orrville Veterinary Clinic Inc. has approximately 4,500 Amish clients. That adds up to lots of animals needing to see a vet.
However, The Amish don't try to pinch every penny possible out an animal, Roadruck said, explaining that the Amish have more of a natural bent to animal care.
A sunny afternoon had many animals out relaxing in the meadows, adding to the pastoral image of the Amish lifestyle. Even without electricity in the barns, the animals are perfectly content and well cared for. Troughs filled with food and water can be carefully monitored by the farmer, so it is easy to see which animal might not be eating - a sure sign that something might be wrong.
Since the Amish do not have phones in their homes, they use various ways to contact the clinic and get assistance. Some will go to the home of someone who has a phone, others go to pay phones scattered throughout the rural area and make the call themselves. The clinic has received post cards requesting the necessary care for non-emergency situations.
Roadruck's truck not only is equipped with all the necessary medical supplies, but he is in constant touch with his office. With the help of a two-way radio, a pager and a cell phone, he is just a call away.
A recent afternoon spent with Roadruck had him checking on a newborn foal less than 24 hours old. The foal, a soft cream color like his mother, was perfectly healthy and only needed an initial vaccination. While mom was a bit anxious about all the attention, Roadruck's 20 years of experience enabled him to calmly move through the situation.
A cow that had recently given birth also needed Roadruck's attention. She had suffered a prolapsed uterus, which one of Roadruck's colleagues already had put back in place and secured with stitches. Roadruck's follow-up visit proved that everything was fine.
She'll probably have another baby, he said.
According to Roadruck, because of the more individualized basis of the Amish farms, the animals can receive more attention. Many of the Amish still milk their cows by hand, although more and more are using milking machines.
The Amish treat animals with respect. They all live on the farm together and depend upon each other, Roadruck said.
However, this is not just a one-way street for the Amish and the animals who benefit from Roadruck's care.
I'm just helping people and helping animals. I can't believe I get to do this. I feel fortunate, Roadruck concluded. (May 2000 Edition)
