Monday, November 17, 2008

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...

29 comments:

  1. Wow! Congratulations Danni! I am so happy for you and for Pistol. How cool it is that he went to live with Sarah & Holly. I don't think it was "luck". I believe it was destiny.

    Will you be getting more donkeys to foster? When? You are a good donkey Mama.

    You won't believe this, but my "word verification" for this comment is "bravo"! How appropriate. Bravo to you, Danni.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Oh happy day! I'm proud of you donkey mom! Now what?????!!!!!!!!!
    Homeless pot-belly pigs?????

    ReplyDelete
  3. Hooray for happy endings (even if they are hard on the human participants). Are you going to foster again?

    ReplyDelete
  4. I'm so happy for Pistol and you. Congrats on your first go round with fostering. I know you've learned lots and the next time will be just as great maybe even better in some ways.

    ReplyDelete
  5. A Hollywood screen writer could not have written a better ending (actually a new beginning) for Pistol! I am so happy for all concerned. Now we need to just get you a new batch.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Aww, I'm so glad he found a home!

    I have something for you on my blog!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Wonderful news! And cool pics of the new "family"

    ReplyDelete
  8. I was worrried about Pistol being lonely, now my heart is melting, that's so wonderful for him, this made my day. And you're a sweet pistol Farmgirl! :-)

    ReplyDelete
  9. Sometimes success comes at a high emotional cost. Happy/sad. If all goes well you won't need to have any more donkeys at your house...How lonely.

    By the way, you have been awarded the prestigious Arte y Pico Award. follow the link to check it out. http://www.robertsroostecofarm.com/2008/11/rewards-of-democracy.html

    ReplyDelete
  10. A perfect ending for you and for Pistol. How much happier could a guy get! Do you have a standing order for six more? Or are you gonna give yourself a break?

    ReplyDelete
  11. Great news! I was getting my Peanuts all soggy. Now, time for Danni to get some forever donkeys! :)

    ReplyDelete
  12. yes need help, I know how to do hyperlinks on a webpage but new to this blog and haven't figured it out.

    PS - I starting coming to your website a while back through SugarCreekStuff and yes I have one of her chick bags.

    ReplyDelete
  13. That is so great that you got them all adopted out so quickly! I bet you miss having them around.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Hooray for Pistol!!! Even if he's a grouchy guy, he doesn't deserve to be alone. I'm so happy he found a home with people and donkeys he already knows.
    What will you do with all your free time?!

    ReplyDelete
  15. It seems like you just got those donkeys!

    What's next? Are you getting another batch of potential adoptees?

    ReplyDelete
  16. So how are you doing? Do your chickens like their butts scratched? Roxy? Jim? You may go through butt scratching withdrawls otherwise.

    ReplyDelete
  17. I love that Pistol had the great opportunity to go to the same home that Sarah and Holly are at. That had to make loading him into that trailer just a little bit easier. How lucky the three of them are to be together again and to have such great caretakers.

    Adopting out 6 donks in 6 mos has got to be some kind of record, right? You should get an award for that. :) Im just sayin.

    ReplyDelete
  18. I predict that you will have more donkeys and that next time you'll keep a couple for yourself.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Oh I love happy endings. I've been thinking about poor Pistol there all alone ever since you posted that super sad post. I'm so happy he's got burro buddies again!!!!!!!!!! :) :) :)

    ReplyDelete
  20. YEY! I'm glad Pistol found a good home, very funny pictures, he looks happy! :D

    ReplyDelete
  21. Congratulations on a job WELL DONE!
    Are more donkeys in your future??

    ReplyDelete
  22. That was awesome. I just made my little niece read it and she said it should be a childrens book in school. She is 5. Great stuff, and she laughed at the good ole butt scratchin!! What a farm Danni !! Start shopping that story!!

    ReplyDelete
  23. I agree! This all seems like a very happy ending to this part of the story! :)

    ReplyDelete
  24. I'm so happy for him - and you! How fantastic, to have been able to find homes for six donkeys in six months. Unbelievable!

    ReplyDelete
  25. What a sweet way to bring this chapter to an end...can't wait to hear what the next one brings!

    BTW...do donkey's like camels?

    ReplyDelete
  26. I confess, I'm going to miss Pistol. He was kind of my favourite (shhh....) I'm glad he has great new home and new playmates though.

    I'm kind of behind on the news around here....does this mean you are now ass-less? So to speak?

    ReplyDelete
  27. I love Pistol. He really was my favorite and I don't even know why. Just caught my heart. I am glad to see he is in a happy place with friends.

    ReplyDelete

I ♥ it when you leave a comment.