If anything is left on our plates, or left in restaurant breadbaskets, Maria puts it in her pockets and takes it out to the animals. Sometimes it goes to the chickens, sometimes it goes to the donkeys. Food is a powerful way of communicating with animals, used sparingly. In the bitter cold, Maria pulls out bits of carrots, stale bread, leftover pizza crusts – sometimes she forgets it and it shows up in her pockets weeks or even months later. The last two days has been rough on the animals, I think, they have been stuck in the pole barn day and night by freezing rain, high winds and snow.

I think it settles them down to see Maria, she and the donkeys have such a strong connection.