It has been almost two years since Animal Control Officer Jessica Barrett and the New York State Police took Simon off the farm where he lay in freezing mud and ice starving to death. He is happy, loving and healthy creature. He is completely healed accept for his legs, which remain a bit twist and painful. Simon loves to eat – he will eat almost anything, although he is partial to corn chips and apples and rigatoni. Lulu and Fanny both kick him in the head regularly, just a donkey’s way of chatting. I still read donkey stories to him in the barn and he love stop press his head into my chest while I rub his nose.

He brays every time he sees me, and I still call this the call to life. He always wanted to live.

I will never forget those first weeks when Simon lay so close to death. Simon struggled to live. I hand-fed him vitamins, hay, carrots and held his thin head up so he could drink water from the buckets we put next to him. His hooves had grown out nearly a foot on either side and he walking on his ankles and his teeth had grown into his jaw, he was lying on his side for so long. His stick was black with rain rot and he was covered in sores and lice. I don’t think he remembers that, and I don’t remember it often either. We are so grateful to have him in our lives, he opened me up in a way that changed me for good. Love you, Simon, thanks for caring so much about living.