We spent an hour with Simon. We each fed him, talked to him, sat next to him. He is remarkably gentle, given what’s he’s been through. We have agreed to bring him to live at Bedlam Farm. We’ve set aside a corral behind the big barn for him to be by himself until the other donkeys get used to him. We are putting a few sheep in with him to keep him calm and give him some company. He has a lot of issues – bad feet, bedsores, lice, rain rot, eye troubles, bad teeth and he was nearly dead from malnutrition and, from his emaciated looks, starvation. His feet were so poor he could barely stand up, so he lay on his side much of the time, thus the sores. His feet are painful and he needs medication for that for awhile.

We have the room, the grass, the hay. I think Lulu and Fanny will have no trouble with him or from him, although he will surely be livelier as he recovers. He’s coming tomorrow afternoon. It was disheartening to see how thoughtless or cruel humans can be to animals, especially this gentle and easygoing soul. I will enjoy writing about him, recording his recovery in videos and taking photos. Maria connected with him from the first, and he with her. Me too. Come meet him as we and the Barrett family talked about bringing him to the farm.

I take seriously the issue of rescuing animals. I have seen so many people – including myself – struggle with the many emotional, financial and other issues surrounding animal rescue. I feel also for the farmer who has struggled so hard and fallen so low that he allowed this to happen. He deserves our sympathy and consideration also, and I will try and contact him and see if there is any way I can help him. It bothers me that we are so quick to rescue animals, so slow and penurious when it comes to people. Any farmer had to be in a bad way for this to happen.

We will take good and loving care of Simon, and I hope he thrives here.