I have mentioned before that donkeys usually form close pair bonds and the donk they are bonded to is called their 'friend.' They shouldn't really be kept alone, and if their friend can't be another donk, then they should have a horse, goat or other animal for company.
I foster all four of mine from the Donkey Sanctuary. Angus and Joey Boy are a bonded pair, as are Jack and Lilly. It seems to me that the attachment in both pairs is a bit one-sided. Jack goes the donkey equivalent of hysterical if he can't see Lilly, tho she doesn't get nearly so stressed. Angus (who has the same name as my eldest son by complete coincidence, not childhood ego overdrive) and Joey Boy have been in the care of the Sanctuary for about fifteen years, tho only the last five have been with me, came to the UK from a sanctuary in Ireland where donkeys are much more common than they are here. They are thought to be about 30 years old. Joey Boy is far more independent than Angus, in fact he is the only one that I can take out on his own - hence he has got a solo nativity gig in a couple of weekends time. Angus spends most of the day hanging out with the kids Jack and Lilly who are about 7. The strength of Angus and Joey's bond is usually plainest to see at night when they automatically go into the same stable together or in times of stress such as when the vet or equine dentist come along. Joey usually places himself squarely between Angus and the threat and when Angus was very ill a couple of years ago he didn't leave his side. I had to put a head collar on him and move him out of the way so the vet could get to Angus.
Anyway, I thought that his might be nice for this week's 'together' theme.
Friday - After getting some chores/animal stuff done in the morning I went to Costco in Coventry and did a mega shop. I hate it and so only go about three or four times a year. The worst bit is getting the stuff back into the house at the end of the journey because we have quite a few steps up to our house. In fact, that reminds me there are still some boxes of wine and trays of drink in Graham's car which I was able to use because he was still in India. Must get the boys to help me with those later.
I got home and got most of the stuff in and various stuff hidden away before the boys got in from school with every intention of making a date with the TV, my laptop and a roaring fire for the evening when I noticed a message from a friend saying that they knew I was on my own and asking if I wanted to go to the pub with them. Must admit my first thought was no, not really, I am knackered and that sofa is looking very tempting, but I resolved to go for a couple of glasses of wine seeing as I had been asked and it would be churlish not to wouldn't it?
Naturally two glasses turned into....well, shall we say more than two and I got up early on Saturday morning to greet an extremely garlicky Graham (thirteen curries in five days) back from his trip to India with rather a thick head.
He is probably going to have to go back before Christmas because the court case that he attended (clarifying some minute point of international company tax law or some such thing - he isn't being prosecuted!), which was the main reason for his trip out there, was adjourned.
Wow, if you got to the end of reading that lot you deserve a medal!
Fav,fav & thrice fav (if only I could ) This shot really shows the loving bond and the closeness between this pair , and I am very partial to your donks or any donk for that matter !! Thanks for sharing this wonderful image
What a picture and I did read it all. Didn't really realise that Donks are such sociable animals. As for the shopping-hate it but did enjoy my time in India although it was very frustrating at times. Must be on a different timescale than us if you know what I mean.
How beautiful - the shot and the story!! yes I got to the end too!! I didn't know that donks needed a companion - it is so sweet!! Love your shot - Fav!!
So glad that you are enjoying your donks! They really are sweet!
I love the "solo nativity gig"! Cute.