Mabel

Height: 12.1 hh (est)
Weight: 600 lbs (est)
DOB: 2004
​Sex: Jenny
Color: Grey
Breed:  Donkey
DNA: 1st
2nd
​3rd
Adoption Fee:  $550
Category:  Companion

Mabel's Story

Mabel came to AAE in August 2019 with her two year old (intact) jack, Max, when their elderly caretaker was unable to meet their needs.  They were left in their caretaker's care when their owner, a family member, moved out of state.  Mabel came to AAE to avoid euthanasia, due to severe fly allergies that caused enormous sores on her legs.  Mabel is the sweetest donkey on earth, well, most of the time.  She's a donkey.  She didn't used to be, she was basically unhandled before veterinary care started for the same issues in 2018.  In time, she understood her doc was helping her.  Mabel also had a supernumerary (extra) tooth that was extracted when her dental was done shortly after arrival

Turns out, she was also pregnant and aborted an approximately 9 month old lil' jack in February of 2020. Half of her placenta passed sometime in the early morning, and when we found her, she was calm and quiet, seemingly unphased.   It was an extremely difficult delivery (breach and the cord was around his neck and between his two front legs), and the vets were unable to remove the lifeless fetus in the field.  She was transported to Loomis Basin Equine Medical Center, and a docs struggled to remove the lil' guy, and it wasn't until their last ditch effort of suspending her hind end were they finally successful.  This was one stoic girl, and we are so happy she survived the ordeal like a champ.

Mabel is recovering well, and her legs have healed in all but one small spot on one leg.  It's a highly mobile area where the skin is tight. She's managed to make it through this 2020 fly season with minimal issues; however, she's been on a steroid since after fly season began. 

Mabel has an extreme sensitivity to flies, and she is high maintenace during fly season.  She will require an adopter who can commit to fly control/management two to three times a day.  This year we used hock shields to cover the scarred areas, and they have been effective, but they can't be used long term due to rub sores.  She is a sweet and friendly donkey who is easy to handle, most of the time.  She's not crazy about the farrier, but does well with sedation.  Mabel is looking for an experienced donkey home with another burro/donkey.  Mabel and Sandy get along very well, and a home together would be ideal.

Graphic photos of Mabel's legs during healing at AAE, and photos from last year before coming to AAE.
 
Mabel is current with dental and hoof care, vaccines and deworming, and she has a microchip.

In general, there is a lot of activity around AAE including foot traffic in and out of paddock/pasture areas, mucking with wheelbarrows, grooming and care activities, weekly farrier visits.  There are resident dogs, cats, chickens, and mini horses, as well as various wildlife including frequent turkeys and squirrels in and around paddock/pasture areas.  AAE is situated on the corner of a busy road with high speed vehicles, trucks, and sirens.  Tractors are used in and around pasture/paddock areas, trucks deliver feed, and a squeeze is occasionally used for unloading hay.  Neighbors have weekly gardeners that utilize various power tools, and children that are active in yards adjacent to some stall/paddock areas.  Horses at AAE are accustomed to a more active environment as opposed to a quiet/sterile environment. ​