Vinnie
In Memoriam
Vinnie was a flashy red roan donkey with terrible feet, the fluffiest face, and mutton chops that never disappeared, even in the height of summer. Saying goodbye to him was incredibly difficult to do, but we had to let him go gently. He was the first donkey l really got to know. He was affectionate, smart, adoring and I loved him. We all loved him. Vinnie was foundational in more ways than one.
On my first date with Chris - the man I would marry nine months later - we rescued Vinnie. I was looking for a companion for my horse, Elvis, and a donkey had been advertised by a rescue in Simi Valley. It was Vinnie. I adopted him and Chris made a donation to the organization. A few days later, they emailed me to say that they had saved three horses from going to slaughter with that money. This was the first I had ever heard about equine slaughter. If that donation had saved that many animals, we could save a lot more. Vinnie planted the seeds that sprouted into Skydog and a passion for animal rescue that has only grown stronger. His rescue led to hundreds of donkeys and horses being saved for Skydog and for other sanctuaries.
The Original Gangster of Skydog - the OG of SD, Vinnie kicked off the trend of giving our donkeys gangster names. He’d let little Joe Pesci use him as a stepping stool to munch on leaves that were just out of reach. When Stanley passed away, he was there for little Boots and helped him move forward. He was one of the “highwaymen”, who mobbed us at the Malibu gate in their fly masks. They wouldn’t let us pass without hugs and tickles and searched the vehicle for cookies. Then they’d turn and race down the hill full speed. He loved to roll in the warm Malibu sand. I would get on the ground to kiss his drooping bottom lip, taking in the sweet scent of his herbivore breath.
Vinnie had a lady love, Red, who had a hard time accepting his absence. We watched over her, as he would have, making sure she was eating, drinking, getting lots of love, and helped her move on with her life. But we all miss him. We will miss him forever.
We were hoping for a miracle to fix his feet that never materialized, but we know we did everything possible. I like to think of him running with the herd in the sky with the best new feet, trotting on the softest clouds. Bye, my old friend. The ranch won't be the same without you. You are a legend, who left a legacy, and took a piece of my heart with you. Rest in peace, dear Vinnie. Love you forever.
Mustangs and burros need your help
In addition to supporting our work by donating, becoming a patron on Patreon or sponsoring a Skydog, there are several important pieces of legislation to protect American equines currently moving through Congress. It only takes a few minutes to contact your Rep and Senators and urge them to support these bills:
Save America’s Forgotten Equines (SAFE) Act of 2023 (H.R. 3475 in the House / S.2307 in the Senate). This bill will shut down the slaughter pipeline that sends some 20,000 American horses and donkeys to savagely monstrous deaths in foreign slaughterhouses every year.
The Wild Horse & Burro Protection Act of 2023 (H. R. 3656) This bill will prohibit the use of helicopters or fixed-wing aircraft in the management of wild mustangs and burros on public lands, and require a report on humane alternatives to current management practices.
Ejiao Act of 2023 (H.R. 6021). To ban the sale or transportation of ejiao, a gelatin made from boiling donkey skins, or products containing ejiao in interstate or foreign commerce, which brutally kills millions of donkeys primarily for beauty products and Chinese medicine.
You can Contact Members of Congress by calling the Capitol Switchboard (202) 224-3121, submitting contact forms on their individual websites, or sending one email to all three simultaneously at www.democracy.io
See our How to Help menu for other actions to ban zebra hunting at US canned hunt ranches, stop production of Premarin & other PMU drugs, and defund the Adoption Incentive Program.