Pistol's happy day

Sometimes really lucky things happen. Often, there is no explaining that luck when it happens, so I've learned to accept it, be thankful for it, and try not to question it too much.

Case in point: Pistol the donkey. As you will recall, he was the last remaining Peaceful Valley donkey at Critter Farm, as the rest of his pals had found forever homes with new adoptive parents. Just as I was really starting to worry about him being alone, one of my earlier donkey adoptive parents called to give me an update on things. When I mentioned that Ian and Brownie had been adopted, he immediately zeroed in on the fact that Pistol was going to be alone. Almost instantly, he expressed interest in adopting him. (I *love* donkey people!!!)

As if that in itself is not a great thing, the best part of this story is that Pistol has gone to live with Sarah and Holly, the two bonded jennys who I adopted out in August!

I tried not to take it personally, but Pistol was ready to go. He was done being an only child:

"Is that a diesel truck engine I hear?"

Andy and Carrie have gotten the backing-in routine down pat:

What a difference this trailer loading event was from Brownie and Ian's! Once Pistol caught whiff of Andy's sweatshirt (Andy had just finished brushing the girls a few hours earlier), Pistol practically walked into the trailer on his own:

"Let's go, already!"

Andy and Carrie are very happy to have Pistol join them at their property near the Oregon coast:

...and are much more relaxed donkey parents this second time around:

Once Pistol arrived at his new home, Andy and Carrie were quick to send me a very funny photo update. The following pictures are some of the ones they sent.(Below captions provided by Andy...)

This is when we got Pistol home. He spent some time wandering around the property:

These are some curious faces….I think they are excited to say the least:

More curiosity and wondering who the “new guy” is at school. Hehehehe:

“I like it here…Just not so much the rain!!!” - Pistol. :

Nothing like a good ole fashioned butt scratchin’:

First feeding. Letting them all see each other:

Morning feeding. There was very little shoving. Mostly eating. We took them to a more open space out of the rain:

"Hi Sarah!! Wanna meet later in the barn???":

"Holly, have I told you lately just how beautiful your eyes are???":

"Hope you two like eating MY BREAKFAST!!!":

"Goats??? We have GOATS to play with??? AWESOME!!!":

"Holly…This isn’t Lady and the Tramp…If you wanna kiss, just ask":

"Look Sarah…there’s enough of me to go around. I got mad skills. Promise.":


Thank you so much, Carrie and Andy!
I think Pistol is going to be just fine. :-)

And so...my first six foster donkeys have all been successfully adopted out to wonderful forever homes. While the goal always was to find permanent homes for these beautiful animals, I never imagined that it would take me less than six months to do so. Donkey people are very special people, indeed.

If you are interested, you can read some highlights from my first time as a Satellite Adoption Center donkey foster mama for Peaceful Valley Donkey Rescue below:

5/24/08: T'was the night before donkeys...

5/26/08: Donkeys for Danni

6/09/08: Introducing....the donkeys of Critter Farm

7/19/08: And then there were five...

8/29/08: And then there were three...

10/02/08: And then there was one...