When Irvin the donkey first showed up at Solstice Sanctuary in Wisconsin, he wasn’t in great shape. Separated from his mother, the 7-month-old was sick, malnourished, and infested with lice. The poor little guy couldn’t even walk! However, after a year in the care of adoptive human parents Angela and Bradley, both his body and personality have undergone a complete transformation. Not only is he in wonderful shape, but he’s playful, energetic, and downright cheeky!
“He’s sassy, he’s loud, he’s funny, and we love him,” wrote the sanctuary on Instagram.
Irvin has made lots of new friends at Solstice Sanctuary, including two other donkeys. However, one of his favorite playmates is Bradley. In a video for The Dodo, Angela describes her husband’s relationship with the donkey as “literally two kids playing.” Their favorite game? Irvin can’t get enough of chasing his dad around the property!
In order to satisfy Irvin’s penchant for running around, his caregivers decided to get him a special present they knew he’d love: a massive beach ball that’s almost as tall as the donkey himself! As soon as Irvin received his new toy, it was love at first sight.
“He was so excited to play with the ball,” said Angela, “He’s like a little kid.”
Living at the sanctuary has obviously made a huge difference in Irvin’s health and outlook on life. His friendly and sweet personality has also brightened the lives of those around him, especially his human parents.
“Now we can go in the pen with him, and he’ll quite literally cuddle with us,” said Angela. “I never knew I could love a donkey so much.”
Solstice Sanctuary relies on donations to take care of their animals. If you’d like to contribute toward food and medical costs for Irvin and his friends, you can do so on their website.
Watch Irvin get his chase on in the video below!
You can find the source of this story’s featured image here.
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