We can usually identify our donkeys by their brays without looking. Sometimes as the symphony begins, it is hard to tell exactly which ones we are hearing, but a lone bray is fairly easy. While working outside one day, I realized that I was hearing an unusual bray, one that I couldn't identify as one of ours. All of the donkeys in the back pasture had congregated along the side fence, which divides our property from the farm next door. At first glance, it was a funny sight. There was a cluster of animals, all different sizes, small to large and it was hard to see which side they were standing on. Our donkeys had answered the standard donkey next door and everyone seemed to have their noses pressed against the fence. The two neighbor donkeys were with a very large horse. They stayed in a group for awhile, then the crowd broke up and the visit ended.
Donkeys truly are sociable little animals and as I watched them walking away, it was obvious the donkeys and horse next door were buddies, too. I now often see them following one another or standing near each other. Never do I see them standing alone, just as our animals prefer eating, sleeping or just hanging around close to the other ones. I guess like us, life really is richer with friends.
