Sunday, March 4, 2007

Donkey issue continues

There are 2 sides to every story. Here are the reader comments on the donkey story as of March 3, 2007:

Cindy Ross of Bowdoin, ME
Mar 3, 2007 5:44 PM
It's hard to believe this circus continues. I think I will let my MULE loose, chase it for a few weeks, then get people to donate money to put up some fencing for me.

I guess I do things the hard way. I decided what kind of animals I want on my farm. Then, I spend my own hard earned mony to put up appropriate fencing to keep them safely contained. Then I spend time to learn about the animals I am going to own so I at least know that I own a MULE and won't go around calling it a donkey. And then I make sure to only have animal that I have the skills to handle. I don't expect others to pick up the tab for my irresponsibility.

Jenny the MULE needs be with people that have the experience, skills, and facilities to handle a young, scared mule. I think it would be great for Jenny and Isabella to be reunited. But absolutely NOT with Mary and Joe. I think it also reflect poorly on Karina Lewis that she is helping to perpetuate this circus. But, I guess it's hard to turn down this kind of media attention and free advertising regardless of what is best for Jenny.....the MULE.

Yankee Donkey & Mule Society of Dudley, MA
Mar 2, 2007 8:28 AM
This is a plea to the media establishment. PLEASE do some research!!

These people may have good intentions for this longeared equine but here are a few flags that concern me about this little animal's welfare.

A) First of all they purchased an animal thinking it was an entirely different species! She is most definitely either a mule or a hinny. In fact, the chances of her beign a hinny are rather small as well, since the odds of a female donkey carrying a horse stallion's foal full term are less than 20%. Mules are much more prevalent than hinnies. There currently is no way of determining what her mother was scientfically. Not even a DNA test.

B) Not having done any research, they bring home an animal that they don't have adequate fencing for.

C) Their original purpose was to use the "donkey" for herd protection. Unfortunately, mules are not the animal of choice and neither is a donkey if it hasn't been raised properly for such a purpose. Having purchased the animal at an auction, chances are it's background and handling is unknown. Plus there are many people who believe a miniature donkey (standing 36 inches at their shoulder) may not be able to ward off attacks from predators like a coyote for example.

D) The final point that needs to be addressed is the issue of Isabella's owner. The mule's current owner is now and has been for many years, an upstanding, caring and knowledgeable member of the donkey and mule world. Her animals are well housed, fenced and recieve extraordinary care. She does her research through PROFESSIONAL DONKEY & MULE people. And is very willing to help others in need.
She also is involved in bettering the area's understanding of donkeys and mules by participating in educational demonstrations and shows.

So I beg of this paper to contact those who have a background in such dealings. Donkeys, mules and hinnies are an oddity and need to be handled in their own manner.


Debra Kovac
Yankee Donkey & Mule Society


Leslie Heulitt of Rock Cave, WV
Mar 1, 2007 9:43 PM
If folks want to send money to these irresponsible people to fund their fencing, well, we all know there�s one born every minute. But to dupe people into sending money to purchase Isabella is pretty incredible. Has anyone bothered to ask if she is even for sale? Because she is not. It would be irresponsible for the rescue organization that has Isabella to adopt her out to such a home. These people don�t even know they have a mule. Maybe Jenny�s owners never asked if Isabella is for sale because they didn�t want to hear the answer. People might stop sending them money.


D. G. of Keene, NH
Mar 1, 2007 7:30 PM
It would be good for you at the paper to follow up on the other side of this story. Isabella very much needs her companion, but since the woman caring for her is a close friend of mine, I know that the rescue she works for hasn't even been contacted about the issues of who gets to take over the care and training of both of these animals. It is ASSUMED by Ms Gaeta and Mr. Varricchio that rescue will just give Isabella to them. But both of these animals need a lot of work to get them to trust humans again, and the rescue is the best place for that, since they have a lot of experience working with donkeys and mules. Isabella has come a long way since being with rescue, but it has taken a lot of time on the part of my friend. I hope that Ms Gaeta and Mr. Varricchio will make a CALL to Save Your Ass Long Ear Rescue and have a real conversation about where these two will recieve the care they need.

Willie of Belgrade, ME
Mar 1, 2007 2:21 PM
how can you ask people to donate money for a fence and shelter. All you are doing trying to make money on this event. Hope the IRS looks in to this. if you want aminals build your own fence like i did and many more animal lovers do. shame on you. $10.00 a picture come on in IRS

mulewrangler of Casper, WY
Mar 1, 2007 2:11 PM
I am glad Jenny was caught, however it is clear that her owners have no knowledge of longears and their behavior. This is not a guard animal in any way. Perhaps they will consider the donations as payment to allow her to go to the same place as Isabella where she will be trained and understood in the appropriate manner. It takes a long time for a true bonding process with a longear and a new owner, and Isabella is clearly beginning bonding and responding, while Jenny is so upset & unhappy that she ran away and had to be coerced back over a long period of time. Horses and longears are very different and Jenny needs the correct process and sure, steady, slow training to be given a fair shot at a good life. Do what is right for her instead of hoping for monetary gain thru her ownership.

Eliza Williams of Waterville, ME
Mar 1, 2007 11:55 AM
Happy to read that the story isn't over! It's wonderful to see that someone cares enough to try to please this hinny/donkey. Hopefully, she will be 'herself' once again, after she's reunited with her 'sibling.'

I, too, believe she's lonely alone.

A heartwarming story, and please keep us up to date on any progress.

March 2, 2007: Happy Texas Independence Day

I get to celebrate with another snow day! I stayed up until 3am last night/this morning making chili for the Texas Independence Day party on Saturday. There was no snow when I went to bed. I woke up a little after 6 and there was lots of snow. But was it enough? I tried looking it up online but didn't see it posted. I tried calling the information line but got someone's cell number. I obviously misremembered the information phone number. ooops. I turned on my radio that plays the television stations but obviously I can't see the closings scrolling on the bottom of the screen. So I go downstairs and watch TV. Channel 13 lists the closings by category...all the services, all the schools, the universities are all lumped together. They listed a lot of universities but not UMF. I switched to another channel that lists the closings by county but no UMF on that list. Finally, I switched to another channel and there it was. Aaaah. UMF is closed. Then I double checked online and found it. I'm not sure if it wasn't posted earlier or if I just didn't see it the first time I looked.

I went back to sleep until 10. :-)

MRM had to go in to work (she closed the library but she had to turn in her budget to the Town Manager and the Town offices weren't closed). RBF went with her. I had an hour and a half phone call with UNT (they weren't having a snow day with their 70 degree weather) and made a second batch of chili along with corn bread. I tried my hand at pinto beans, Texas Trash (basically a spicy Chex Mix) and jello molds in the shape of Texas and stars. The pinto beans were pretty yummy and I was very pleased with how the Texas Trash turned out (especially considering I had to substitute on some of the spices). But the jello molds weren't very successful. I had too much water in the first batch. It took a while to finally get the jello out of the molds and when it finally did come out, it looked like a star or the outline of the state for a while and then quickly started losing its shape. Oh well.

More details on the party later. But I loved having a snow day today, even though it puts me behind in both of the classes I teach. I did sent out an email on what our modified schedule is going to look like. So who loves snow days more . . . students or teachers??

March 1, 2007: Donkey odyssey inspires donations

Yes, the donkey is still in the news. But this time it's not because she's still on the lam. Now that she's "fenced in" people want to help pay for a new fence and for a reunion.

Donkey odyssey inspires donations
By CRAIG CROSBY
Staff Writer Kennebec Journal & Morning Sentinel Thursday, March 01, 2007

PITTSFIELD -- Mary Gaeta sat at her computer desk Wednesday gently pulling letters and cards from envelopes that had arrived from across the country.

With each note, her determination to fulfill the writers' wishes grew.

"They're all saying the same thing," Gaeta said. "They all want to see Jenny and Isabella reunited."

Jenny made headlines across the country after escaping from her pen at Mary's Garden, the Higgins Road farm Gaeta owns with her partner, Joe Varricchio, on Jan. 18.

The donkey -- most now believe she is actually a hinny, the offspring of a male horse and female donkey -- remained on the run until last week despite several capture attempts that included everything from wrangling to sedatives.

Equine expert Karina Lewis spent more than a week bonding with Jenny and ultimately was able to lead the donkey into a makeshift corral.

Lewis believes Jenny was searching for a partner, likely a sibling, that was sold separately at an auction last fall.

That partner, which has been called Isabella, was rescued by the Massachusetts-based Save Your Ass Long Ear Rescue and Rehabilitation, an informal donkey and mule rescue league, and lives on a farm in New Hampshire.

A plot that captured attention for its intrigue and rescue has morphed into a love story, and those involved are determined to create a happy ending.

"When we bring Isabella home, she's going to be ecstatic," Lewis said. "That's going to change that little donkey's life, no question about it."

Jenny has already changed the lives of those around her. Just a week after her capture, donations to build Jenny a new fence and reunite her with Isabella have arrived from around the country.

"We're getting donations from all over," said Gaeta, listing gifts from Florida, New Jersey and Maine. "It's unbelievable. And it's not little amounts. This one's 50 bucks."

Gaeta intends to answer every letter she receives and will include a picture of Jenny.

"People are writing lovely letters," she said. "I wish I knew how to make up a Web site because then I could keep everybody posted."

Gaeta attached photos of Jenny to card stock, each signed by Gaeta and Varricchio, that are being sold for $10 apiece at the online auction site, eBay. Gaeta intends to sell the photos -- buyers can pick one of three poses -- at fairs this summer. All of the money will go toward fencing in the couple's 18 acres and purchasing Isabella.

Any remaining money will be donated to an animal shelter, Gaeta said.

Lewis hopes the fenced-in area will include the woods in which Jenny spent much of her time while on the lam.

"She wants it so they can run in the woods and do whatever they want to do," Varricchio said. "She'll be free as a bird."

The couple still gets calls from magazines that are writing stories on the donkey. Varricchio's nephew is even writing a children's book based on Jenny's adventure.

"I was telling someone I wouldn't be surprised if they make a movie," Varricchio said. "Nothing is impossible."

He is anxious for the spring when he hopes children and their parents will come to see Jenny.

"I'm going to buy a buggy," Varricchio said. "That way when the kids come up they can ride. I think the kids would enjoy that."

Considering the progress she has made, Jenny may be able to star in the movie some day.

The donkey is already accepting a bridle and on Wednesday Lewis loaded Jenny into a horse trailer and took her for a ride around the neighborhood.

"She's doing really well," Lewis said. "She's still fairly unsure what's expected of her. We're working through that. Her trust is building every day."

The trailer ride was designed to prepare Jenny for a trip to the Northeast Equestrian Exhibition, which is scheduled for Friday through Sunday at the Treasure Equestrian Center in Manchester.

Lewis has planned a 30-minute presentation on Saturday during which she will talk about her business, The Mirror Effect, which works to solve behavioral problems with horses and their owners. Gaeta, Varricchio and Jenny will take part in the presentation in hopes of generating money for the fundraiser.

"We thought this would be an opportunity for people to meet Jenny," Lewis said. "She's been an inspiration to so many people."

Lewis is working on arranging a visit between Jenny and Isabella or, ideally, bringing the two together permanently.

"We're going to use (the expo) as an opportunity to continue the cause we see here," Lewis said. "In my mind, the story isn't over. She's lonely. She's missing her friend."

retrieved from: http://morningsentinel.mainetoday.com/news/local/3667753.html