I think this is the saddest little donkey you’ve ever seen, except when he has his ball.
After his owner passed away, Earl, this sweet donkey arrived at A Home For Hooves Farm Sanctuary. Earl had spent many years with his owner, and now, sadly, he was left all alone.
However, Earl was accustomed to being alone. Even when his owner was alive, he would spend much of his time alone in a field. As the sanctuary wrote:
“It has been very apparent that Earl was lonely, and that he’s been lonely his whole life without any herd mates. As I’m sure you know, donkeys are herd animals and companionship is vital for their mental health.”
Despite being in a safe sanctuary, Earl remained lonely. When he first arrived, he was the only donkey there. However, the sanctuary workers had a plan to lift his spirits.
They couldn’t bear the sadness in his eyes, so they decided to bring in a big, inflatable ball. Earl’s eyes lit up the moment he saw it!
Soon enough, Earl and the ball were inseparable.
It was heartwarming to see how Earl’s eyes lit up with joy, and the sanctuary workers were thrilled to finally see him so happy!
Unfortunately, after just a few weeks, tragedy struck again – his beloved ball popped!
“Earl is heartbroken this evening! His beloved ball has deflated and he’s the saddest donkey you’ve ever seen without his ball.”
The sanctuary reached out to their supportive followers for help, and donations soon poured in – not just for one new ball, but enough to ensure Earl would never be without a ball again!
@homeforhooves Earl was devastated when his cherished ball deflated. Without it, he became the most sorrowful donkey you'd ever lay eyes on. 🙁 Earl plays with his ball multiple times a day and has devoted countless hours to chasing it around. Thanks to the generosity of many, Earl now has an abundance of balls to enjoy!
♬ vibey birds of a feather – Jordan Greenwald
It’s clear that this is everything Earl ever needed. Thanks to the kindness of generous strangers and the sanctuary’s dedicated efforts, this little donkey is finally happy. I hope he enjoys many more wonderful years ahead!
“Earl would like to thank everyone for the overwhelming support after his beloved ball deflated! Earl has more balls than he knows what to do with now and he can make his own ball pit.”
The sanctuary expressed their heartfelt thanks for all the balls and the incredible support. For a while, it seemed like Earl couldn’t be happier, but as the saying goes, “misfortune never comes alone,” and Earl faced another setback.
Yet, fortune has a way of coming in pairs, too! Shortly after the ball updates, the sanctuary shared an even more heartwarming update: Earl got new friends!!!
Earl’s life has never been more fulfilling. He has all the balls he could wish for, a field to run around in endlessly, and now, he’s surrounded by a herd of friends to share it all with! As the sanctuary shared:
“Having his very own donkey friends has made a huge difference for him and we are absolutely thrilled that he’s no longer lonesome.”
What a fantastic story! It took me on a rollercoaster ride of emotions. I’m so grateful that there are still people out there who are willing to go the extra mile to make a donkey happy. The world is still a wonderful place because of your kindness!