Patrick is doing well at Morning Bray Farm.
He’s settling in nicely.
It has taken a while, but his brothers are allowing him to join them for meals more with each passing day.
I think he’s happy here. He never has to be alone again, which seems to suit him just fine.
He’s a very sweet, gentle and curious boy. Once in a while, we find him a short distance away from the other boys looking quite sad. I wonder what he’s thinking when he does this and I hope he can forget.
Most of the time, though, he’s working on becoming a character right along with everyone else.
♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
Morning Bray Farm 
March 30, 2011 at 4:42 am
Time. It just takes time. Patrick has been through so much in his short life – I’m not surprised he gets a little sad sometimes. I hope each day with your boyz makes his memories fade just a little bit more, until they are gone.
And…….is that NIGEL sticking his head towards you for some loving? Happy dance!!!
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March 30, 2011 at 5:54 am
Sue,
Yep, that’s Nigel! 😀
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March 30, 2011 at 5:11 am
I think when Patrick stands off by himself, he isn’t sad… I think he’s thinking about how he just can’t believe that he has a mom and dad and a herd of brothers, and good food, and toys…and life is good.
He never even knew life could be like this.
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March 30, 2011 at 5:14 am
He is adjusting really well to heaven on earth!
I can’t help but think of a big, fuzzy bunny in that fifth full head shot. I just want to give him nose kisses!
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March 30, 2011 at 5:26 am
I’d be sad too if my ears kept disappearing!
Lol
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March 30, 2011 at 5:39 am
I’m quite sure that safe = happy in a donkey’s mind. And Patrick definitely knows he’s safe. I see he has also perfected the disappearing ear trick. Well done, Patrick.
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March 30, 2011 at 7:01 am
Carson,
I like to think of safe = happy. He’s definitely safe. 🙂
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March 30, 2011 at 6:03 am
Just part of the herd!
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March 30, 2011 at 6:17 am
so…FUZZY!! 😀
You know, I dreamt of donkeys last night; half-wild ones, living with their humans in the wilderness, galloping around with their fellows in play.
I wonder what it means?
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March 30, 2011 at 6:41 am
Flartus,
Hmm… I wonder. Were any of the donkeys in your dream white? I hope so. 🙂 https://morningbrayfarm.com/2010/10/29/suni-lou-who-loves-to-dream/
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March 30, 2011 at 10:25 am
Darnit, no white donkeys…just regular Bernard and Nigel lookalikes. It probably means my life will be chaotic, with memorable characters!
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March 30, 2011 at 6:55 am
Auuuuh, I just want to scratch his fuzzy head.
One does wonder if the ‘alone’ part is just normal. He may need some time by himself so he doesn’t have to figure out from moment to moment what the others are doing. He was alone for so long, being in herd might be stressful sometimes.
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March 30, 2011 at 7:00 am
CeeCee,
That’s a very good point. It’s almost as if he doesn’t know “how to be a donkey” sometimes. He’ll figure things out, I’m sure.
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March 30, 2011 at 6:59 am
Oh my word, that face! He is so adorable. Kisses and hugs, Patrick!
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March 30, 2011 at 7:16 am
He’s beautiful and I love him… and I’m so glad he’s safe = happy! Just give him extra hugs and scritches for awhile..
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March 30, 2011 at 7:43 am
Years ago I had a dog named Sparky that I got from a shelter. She had been abused and was easily frightened. It took many months for her to fully relax and be herself. It was such a joy to watch. I have a feeling that as the months roll by, Patrick will continue to bloom where he has been so lovingly planted. Thank you for sharing this time with us.
Suzanne
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March 30, 2011 at 7:50 am
Patrick’s face is so “fluffy” and adorable. I can imagine what goes through his mind. He is thinking how fortunate he is when you and Don rescued him from his former place. His sad thoughts will fade away in time especially with his four new brothers.
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March 30, 2011 at 9:17 am
Two observations from these pictures:
1) That group of five shot shows how little he really is, probably stunted by lousy food and overwork at such a young age 😦
2) He’s really smart. He made a figure 8 in the sand with the feed tub in that last pic 🙂
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March 30, 2011 at 8:06 pm
gazelle,
He is really smart. 🙂
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March 30, 2011 at 9:31 am
Aaaah, thanks for the update Justina. How about his interaction with humans? Does he like affection?
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March 30, 2011 at 7:28 pm
sigrid,
You’re welcome. He’s still leery about interaction with humans. He likes affection on his terms… and only around his face for now. I touched his rear end the other day in an attempt to get his attention away from Bernard’s sweet feed bowl and onto his own – he tucked his tail and legs so far up they were practically touching his front feet. He didn’t like having his back end touched and I’m sure he’ll be that way for a long, long time… until he realizes how incredible butt scritches are! 😀
And while he enjoys having his face rubbed, he doesn’t like big or sudden hand movements around his face… he appears to be extremely hand shy… he flinches and shuts his eyes (the other boys don’t do that… Nigel being a little bit of an exception). I don’t think I have to say what that probably means when it comes to Patrick. 😦
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March 30, 2011 at 9:36 am
Thinking of Patrick and his new life makes my heart so happy! What an adorable cottonball fluffhead he is! I loooove his puffy head! I have always wondered what goes through the minds of rescued animals, especially when they have been put through fearful stituations like Patrick. I hope that his adorable donkey thoughts are all about joyful acceptance of winning the lottery and that he never thinks about his past. Sending tons of love to the whole pack o’burritoes and all of their friends!
xoxo
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March 30, 2011 at 9:38 am
I’ve gotten two dogs at one year old. Both cried, off and on, for a while after I got them.
One had been stray (maybe forever), and the other came from a very secure kennel situation.
I think change can be hard, even good change. Learning to live with different expectations, within different parameters. I remember having twinges of missing a pair of roommates I really did not like………….
I’ll bet he’s remembering being sad, and that makes him sad, for the moment.
As the happy and safe moments in his life outweigh the sad ones, more and more, I bet the sad memories will fade.
Wilbur had nightmares, when we first got him, After some time (months?), he no longer did. He’s still a very active sleeper — running motions and growling and barking, but no more of the cries we heard in his dreams early on.
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March 30, 2011 at 9:48 am
I would not be suprised if certain things trigger a negative response from Patrick for many years to come. You’ll figure out pretty quickly what they are. I took in an abused/neglected young filly some years ago. It took her quite a few years to totally trust me. There were always a few things we knew would freak her out-so we avoided them. Happily, she turned out to be a very loving mare. It looks like your boy is settling in quite well with his herd. 🙂
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March 30, 2011 at 7:57 pm
Rosanne,
Touching his butt is definitely one of those things for now. 😦
Happily for Patrick too… he is a very loving donkey boy. 🙂
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March 30, 2011 at 10:43 am
He is sooo fuzzy and so damn cute. You have 5 of the cutest asses 😀 I agree with CeeCee and I think it’s an old habit of his that will probably eventually change over time.
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March 30, 2011 at 8:07 pm
Colleen,
Thank you. 😀
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March 30, 2011 at 11:03 am
Love the photo with everyone at the dinner bin. (Or is that the water bin?)
If only we could figure out some way to get a shot from above!
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March 30, 2011 at 7:22 pm
Cathy,
You’re right… that’s the dinner bin.
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March 30, 2011 at 12:34 pm
Oh, I just got all misty-eyed when I saw Patrick with his head in the food bucket along with all the other boys. He’s completely one of the happy herd now, isn’t he?
And gosh, Justina, I know I keep saying this, but he is just so beautiful. That little fuzzy head and those soft eyes just slay me.
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March 30, 2011 at 7:56 pm
Danni,
Patrick said you can say it as many times as you want. 😀
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March 30, 2011 at 12:44 pm
LOVE, Love and more love will conquer his sadness!!! and I know he will get all that!!! He might be thinking this is all too good to be true, like his dream finally came true and he still can’t believe it is REAL!!!He is soOOOOOOo SWEET! I wish I could nuzzle him!hehe
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March 30, 2011 at 1:27 pm
Thanks for the Patrick update Justina! Everybody is interested in whats going on with the brothers, also me. I love the photo with all heads together while eating 🙂 That´s a great step, sharing food.
Nice photos, so much noses, ears, eyes… wow, you have five donkeys!
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March 30, 2011 at 1:35 pm
Such an amazing story. Patrick might be wondering when the rope is going to drop, but it looks like he has blended into the family with little trouble. Can we ever know what our rescued animals remember? My cat seems like she has always been with me, sleeping on my lap or on my hip at night (I’m a side-sleeper, and she likes to be on top of me). She was found in a NYC alley a few years ago.
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March 30, 2011 at 3:38 pm
In the third picture, is that Patrick standing next to Ellsworth? – Ever since I watched that wonderful video of your boyz running and playing, I’ve been wondering if the relationship Ellsworth-Bernard has changed in any way since Patrick’s arrival?
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March 30, 2011 at 7:54 pm
Sundog,
It sure is Patrick standing next to Ellsworth.
I wondered the same thing. Worried about it actually. Not to worry though, I think the relationship between Bernard and Ellsworth is unconditional, forever love. I haven’t seen any change in their relationship.
Ellsworth seems to be the kindest to Patrick (from day one)… Bernard primarily cares about being where the action is and being friends with the world (but not in charge of it)… and Fergus and Nigel seem to be slowly warming up to Patrick. They still have their “moments,” but they’re getting fewer and farther in between.
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March 31, 2011 at 10:58 am
Thank you!
That sounds just wonderful. Beautiful souls, especially Big Red a.k.a. St. Ellsworth… 🙂
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March 30, 2011 at 4:08 pm
I agree with some of the others that said he is accustomed to being alone and maybe just needs to trust his reality now. And then again…maybe like Ry he requires alone time to get himself together to be able to be the part of the herd. He is darling and is coming along so well with DA BOYZ. How sweet it is……The Olde Bagg
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March 30, 2011 at 5:46 pm
Patrick seems to be happy, how could he not be! And just check out Nigel getting all up close and personal!
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March 30, 2011 at 6:02 pm
This world is a better place for what you and Don have accomplished in this rescue of a suffering animal. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
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March 30, 2011 at 6:20 pm
he’s so fluffy i could DIE! (sorry…Despicable Me reference)
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