Giacomo must be looking down on us and smiling. We have found a senior donkey to bring to Apifera.
And her name is Matilda.
My heart skipped a beat when I heard her name was the same as my mother's middle name. Matilda was recently rescued by the kind people of Lavender Dreams Farm in Washington, along with 8 other donkeys. The owner of the donkeys wanted to get rid of them, and didn't want to even bother taking them to auction [which would not have had a happy ending] since he wouldn't get enough money. He told the rescue he was going to have to shoot them in two weeks. They stepped in.
Matilda had been abused as a brood jenny. The owner was only giving her straw...yes, straw. She was bred every year for her whole life. The rescue's vet has looked her over and she is in amazingly good health considering she'd never had hay or supplements. Her teeth are pretty good but they are paying to have them floated [a procedure to shave off the points off an equine's teeth]. She is having regular farrier work too while she is there - her feet aren't too bad, thankfully. And they have been walking her to try to strengthen her back muscles and improve her sway back. Carrying the extra weight of a baby without proper feed or care put strain on her back, for sure.
I am so excited to bring her home and work with her. She has a loving personality, but is a bit shut down- who wouldn't be? I will be loving all over that donkey. She will participate in sing-a-longs, cookie breaks after nap time, rubdowns, ear poetry contests and sunset sit-ins by the barn. I will show her Donkey Hill and the magic Old Oaks, who talk to all newcomers, if spoken to.
And I'm thinking too she will be a wonderful candidate for senior visits with the elderly here at the farm.
