Nov 19 2008
How to tell when a donkey is emarressed!
Arriving home from work one summer day, I noticed JJ(The donkey),standing at the front fence leaning out and chewing fresh grass. I pulled in the drive way, stopped the truck and listened to my usual welcome(five loudly braying donkeys!)We kept between five and nine at a time, Imagine nine all making that wonderful screech!
Feeding time was whenever I arrived home, I tried to tell myself they loved me for myself, but I guess I always knew food would always be foremost in their hearts.
While filling their water tank and throwing hay, I became aware of a missing donkey. They waste no energy meeting me at the feeding gate, no matter where in the field they happen to be when they saw me. Dogs have nothing on a donkey…
JJ, never appeared, so off I went looking for him. He was still standing where I had spied him in passing, obviously he had been there awhile judging by the pile behind him. His ears were down, his head the same and he looked like he wanted to hide. Very strange.
Closer examination revealed his dilemma. He had stuck his head through the horse fence, the grass is always greener on the other side! His ears refused to pull back through, you simply don’t push a 500 lb animal anywhere including backward! I cut the fence and got him loose, he tucked his tail between his legs and slowly ambled over to the feed trough in misery, he reeked of shame. Embarrassment is a terrible thing to a donkey….
I had almost forgotten that little episode when a week or so later, Jasper happened to be standing in the same place…. Yes he was, exactly the same spot. Extracted in exactly the same fashion. Exhibiting exactly the same demeanor! I wish I had pictures….
You’ll never guess where I found Jackie a few days later… or maybe you would. I mowed that grass from then on.
Never let anyone tell you a donkey has no feelings, I know better!
Thomas H. Forthe
