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A Pair of Donkeys Find Their Forever Farm
A Pair of Donkeys Find Their Forever Farm
On a cool June morning with a heavy dew still hanging in the grass, Sally Price, executive director of the Middleburg Humane Foundation (MHF), arrived at a farm just outside Upperville to visit with a pair of donkeys that had recently been adopted from the MHF facility in Marshall.
Accompanied by Sawyer Guinn, MHF’s communications director, as Sally pulled up and got out of the car, she found four members of the Slater family waiting in the field. Mildred “Bucky” Slater, her son Fletcher, and his children, Bowen and Beck, are the new caretakers of Pepper and Clyde, the donkeys adopted from MHF.
The animals only had a short, several week stay at the MHF facility, but quickly became a staff favorite. Their gentle nature and endearing personalities made them easy to care for and even easier to fall in love with. As much as the staff was enjoying their company, the goal stayed constant in getting them adopted. Together.
That usually is no easy task, especially considering the requisite property requirements necessary to make a good home for any type of livestock, even for a pair of easy going donkeys. This time, it worked perfectly.
Bucky Slater, a long-time Upperville attorney, had been on a long hunt hoping to find mini-horses, donkeys, or particularly agreeable ponies to introduce her grandchildren to animal husbandry and all the rewarding work that goes into developing relationships with animals.
Pepper and Clyde fit the bill perfectly. A friend of Bucky’s, who heard about the donkeys’ presence at the MHF facility, initially let her know about what seemed a likely match made in heaven. Virginia Jackson, MHF Equine Coordinator, then spoke with her about the adoption, and Pepper and Clyde were soon on the way, with minimal protests about loading into an unfamiliar horse trailer.
Their new four-legged family also includes eight other horses and a slew of farm dogs and barn cats on the 100-acre property. Most importantly for the donkeys though, are Bowen and Beck. The two children will be learning the rewarding process of caring for animals by developing relationships with Pepper and Clyde.
Bowen, five, got to pick which donkey she wanted to be responsible for due to the proximity of their adoption to her birthday. She chose Pepper, the smaller of the two with a coat that resembles the gray brown dusting of fresh cracked pepper corns. Beck, a precocious two-year-old, got Clyde, who’s size dwarfs the toddler but, due to his gentle nature, is a perfect match.
The children took turns brushing Pepper and were all too eager to spoil the donkeys with baby carrots. Clyde was more than content to stand next to Fletcher Slater and take advantage of the all you can eat buffet of carrots and peppermints coming out of his pockets.
“At MHF it isn’t just about finding homes, it’s about finding good homes,” Guinn said. “We’re fortunate to have the ability and resources to vet all potential adopters. We don’t take that for granted. And the Slater Farm is exactly that.”
Details www.middleburghumane.org .
