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The first animals we brought to the farm were our donkeys Michelle and Mariah.  Donkeys are guardian animals so it made sense that they should be first.  We chose to adopt rather than buy from a private party.  The girls and I scoured the Longhopes Donkey Shelter in Bennett, CO.  We narrowed it down and made an appointment to go meet the donkeys.  We had such a wonderful experience, the staff was so kind and knowledgeable!  Turns out that the donkeys we had picked out, didn't really pick us back...….we ended up spending most of the day meeting and learning about the available donkeys.  At the end of the day one pair of jennys followed us along the fence as we left.  They picked us!  Two weeks later Michelle and Mariah (these were the names they had) were brought to their new home.  This is where things got real!  Who would have ever imagined that my chores would include cleaning up donkey poo?!?!  Certainly not me!  As the girls and I got to know each other I learned to appreciate how clever donkeys can be.  One of their tricks was taking the split rail fence apart so that they could go sample the neighbor's pasture.  Luckily we are blessed with wonderful neighbors that let them spend the night as they clearly weren't ready to come home.  We soon learned just how friendly and helpful folks are out in the country as several people noticed them in the wrong pasture and stopped to help us get them back safely across the highway.  Their second and final (knock on wood) unauthorized field trip ended at another neighbors pasture who was just as kind.  Because we were still getting to know each other I didn't feel comfortable walking them home on my own so I called for back up.  I wonder if the sheriffs that showed up to help me out ever imagined this as part of the job.....lol  

Now Michelle greets me in the morning with loud brays to let me know she is ready for breakfast.  Mariah loves her snuggles...….and her treats!  They get the zoomies just like dogs and it is so funny to watch!