The second week of December, 2009 was time to say goodbye to Jasper (black), Gigi (roan) and Ambrose (spotted) after 15 years of companionship. Burt Palmer of Peaceful Valley Donkey Rescue's Texas operation (Texas Burro Rescue) came to pick them up one cold, cold morning. My ex husband, Yakov, daughter, Jericha, and myself were all present. The donkeys behaved very well as the humans tried not to upset them by getting too emotional. Members of the team remodeling my house so I can sell it were also watching the departure. After the furry ones boarded the huge trailer and were munching on various lovely snacks we stripped our green pipe panels, feed tubs and various odds and ends out of the area to give to Burt. He's got some 120 burros in his rescue in Miles, Texas. Since the two geldings are 25 years of age and 14-year-old Gigi has a bad back foot I was finding few good choices for re-homing them. Peaceful Valley's Mark Meyers, though battling cancer, stepped up to the challenge so that my beloved burros will be living out their days with good care.
Peaceful Valley Donkey Rescue is a charity well worth your support. Mark Meyers is a man worthy of every prayer, bit of positive thought and energy that we may all beam in his direction. Burt had been rescuing donkeys before joining the PV network and coincidentally his wife's name is Gigi. I intend to visit Miles as soon as I can!
Nothing moves now in the pen but rolling tumbleweeds. I could not leave that place fast enough, without them to breathe life and donkey fun far and wide...