Most of you would know of the famous Sam, our blind donkey, but are you familiar with the other donkeys (+ a mule?!) that call Happily Heifer After home?
2019 brought us Sid. Sid was found tied up at a slaughterhouse, and thanks to the generosity of our community we were able to raise the funds to buy him his freedom! Sid actually stands for ‘Super Important Donkey’, which sums this man up quite nicely. We know very little of his history. Only that he roamed wild in the Northern Territory for 10 years. After his rescue, he took many months to open up and become comfortable with us. He absolutely loves scratches and treats. His whole world changed for the better when we found him, and it changed again when he met Jack.
2020 brought us Jack. Jack lost his best friend, Jenny, and had become incredibly lonely and depressed. Little did he know he was about to find a new best friend by the name of Sid! Jack really helped Sid to blossom, and now they are inseparable. Sid is the more sensible one, and Jack is the joker of the group. Always getting into mischief, pulling funny faces, and eating things he's not meant to. His cheeky personality is always sure to put a smile on our faces!
2023 brought us Frankie. Frankie is unique, being the only mule at the sanctuary! A mule is a strange animal, resulting from the breeding of a female horse with a male donkey. Usually they are sterile, meaning that two mules cannot create another mule. So if you’ve never met a mule before, that’s no surprise, they truly are a special species! Our Frankie is only 8 years old, but has already lived in 7 different homes, constantly passed around due to ‘behavioural issues’. Mules, like donkeys, can be easily misunderstood, often gaining the reputation of being stubborn when really they just want to take the time to understand the situation in front of them before diving in head first. I’m sure many of us can relate to that! Mules are also incredibly intelligent, meaning that they tend to question, rather than blindly trusting everything. Thankfully Frankie found his way to us, so he will never again be at risk of being shipped off to yet another home. He has made leaps and bounds in his progress, going from not letting us anywhere near him to enjoying scratches and human company. He is happiest when he is with his friends Jack and Sid, and especially loves to play and wrestle with Jack!
This trio are the first you may see when you visit our new sanctuary. They hang out in the paddock adjoining the left of the driveway, where the fruit trees used to grow. Apparently donkeys LOVE to eat fruit trees, so these are no more... We are sure the day they discovered the trees was one of the best days of their lives! They are super happy in their large new paddock, often seen exploring and playing together. We are so grateful that we have been able to give them all the life they deserve, and it is so special for us to get to experience their unique personalities. They are brilliant mascots for donkeys and mules, so be sure to say hi when you next come to visit, you may be surprised at what you learn. They are definitely not just little horses!
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