When an Orcas Donkey Slips on the Ice

— from Tish Knapp —

Here’s a short, wintery, sweet Orcas story for what it’s worth. Rosie, my ancient little white donkey, fell on the ice during the cold spell and could not get up because the ice was too slippery to get a good hoof-hold. Rick Doty drove past on Buckhorn and saw her and immediately went into action. He drove down my driveway and told me about her plight. Then he went up the hill to home to get his tractor to help with righting her.

By the time he got back, the Flemings from up the hill, Lesley Liddle, and three other people who had driven by and seen the little donkey in distress and, of course, had stopped and come into the field to help, were grouped around Rosie. With the help of Rick’s tractor the whole group pulled her gently across the ice to the grass where she got up and was able to stand.

We were all so happy to see those four legs sound and able to do their job. After some senior horse feed and oats with a scoop of sugar dissolved in hot water, along with lots of toweling and a blanket to warm her and heaps of love and concern which Rosie has always taken to mightily, she decided to join the other horses without even a thank you.

I remembered how much I love living on this island where everyone is really interested in the welfare of the life that roams it. It was a good Christmas story. And the ending was really happy.