Saturday encore ~ The emancipation of Ellsworth

One guess where I'm going to be today. At Ellsworth's farm! There will be donkeys and burros and wonderful friends ... oh, and did I mention the crab feast? I posted this story originally on September 28, 2009. If you want to see what love and care can do for a mistreated animal in a very short amount of time, check out Morning Bray Farm's blog, if you haven't already.

Last month, I introduced you to Bernard, my friend Justina's adorable little donkey, who continues to challenge George and Alan for cutest ass in the universe.



Poor pitiful Bernard has been pushing his ball around his corral by himself with nobody to play with, while Justina has searched high and low for a suitable donkey companion.



Yesterday I accompanied Justina and her husband to one of those low places...very, very low. Think 20-acre junkyard. We went to look at a 3-year-old Jack and found him in a pen with two miniature donkeys, a dozen or so goats, and piles and piles of hazardous stuff.



He was a gentle soul who seemed to get along with everybody and loved the attention we doled out, but the carrots? Not so much. I honestly think he had never tasted one before. Despite the scratches, scuffs and scars all over his body, he seemed healthy enough. His owner explained he was "accident prone" and was always stepping on a nail or getting himself wrapped in wire. Excuse me? And whose fault would that be? I about bit my tongue in half trying to keep my mouth shut.



When Justina walked him through the squalor to the horse trailer, little did he know he would be landing in paradise.



Bernard, meet Ellsworth. Ellsworth, meet Bernard. Ellsworth, you'll have to stay separate until the vet gets here to geld you and pronounce you healthy. Meantime, know that you'll have a little buddy waiting to play just on the other side of the barn.



Bernard, don't you worry. There's plenty of love to go around for both of you.





Ellsworth seems to stand a little taller and prouder in his new home.



And Bernard's wishing he could stand a little taller, better to see his new buddy across the barn aisle.