JORGE JOINS SPECIAL NEEDS HERD

Today was Jorge's first day with other donkeys at the Refuge. When he arrived, there were three issues that needed dealt with. As always, issues one and two were overgrown hooves and poor dental health. For Jorge there was one more issue that had to be resolved before he could be introduced to a herd - he had to be gelded. Not a nice "How do you do" but definitely a necessary one. It has been three weeks since his surgery and he has healed properly so today he was allowed to be with Lady Bug, Jose, Sara and the other special needs donkeys. In every herd there is a leader and Jorge spent most of the day trying to figure out who that was. Jose seemed most interested in the new pasture mate. He and Jorge ran around the pasture about forty times, even though Jose is visually impaired. They also exchanged a few little kicks during the day but that is all part of being in a herd. We did notice a little scrape on Jorge's nose and are not sure if that was a result of joining the herd or because he kept sticking his nose through the fence into the mammoth paddock to "court" Ruby who is in heat. Remember that Jorge is a mini and Ruby is a mammoth and over twice his size. Silly boy! At some point Jorge may join the mini herd but for now he will be safe and happy with his new friends in the special needs herd. He is such a sweet boy. I am so glad we could offer him a new home.