The Conversation
Couple Adopts Miniature Donkey To Care For Blind Animals
You've likely heard of guide dogs that are trained to help the blind, but a seeing-eye donkey?
Seems a bit far-fetched.
But, according to a couple of farmers in Green Forest, AK, the unlikely service animal does exist, and her name is Violet.
Robbin and Cory Plumlee, along with their 1-year-old daughter Allie Sue, live and work on a farm in Carroll County.
When Robin came across a blind cow named Molly for sale on social media, she knew she had to take her in. Robbin, who studied Animal Science at College of the Ozarks, quickly adopted the calf and brought her home to live on one of the farms that belongs to her family.
Once Molly arrived at the farm, the Plumlees soon realized how much extra care she needed in order to survive.
"Molly could not get around anywhere, she couldn't get to water, feed," Robbin told GMA.
Robbin tried giving Molly her own pasture, but she kept getting injured and when she paired the animal up with other "sighted" cows it only seemed to agitate her further.
So, without any other good options, the Plumlees decided to take their friend's suggestion and adopt a miniature donkey, which are sometimes used to guard livestock.
Violet the miniature donkey soon joined Molly on the farm and Robbin placed the two of them in a corral to see how they would get along. Cory had the idea to put a bell on Violet so that Molly could follow her around the pasture.
Lucky for the Plumlees, the plan worked. The animals quickly formed a bond and became inseparable. Violet helped Molly learn where the watering hole and feed bay were, and she led her through the gates every day to graze in a 10-acre pasture. Whenever Molly appeared to be stressed or unsure of her surroundings, she just had to listen for Violet's bell.
Violet also came to the rescue when Cory's favorite horse named Raz developed equine glaucoma and went blind.
When the couple put Violet and Raz in the same corral together, sure enough the animals soon bonded, and the duo quickly became a trio when Raz started following Violet and Molly around the farm.
Robbin and Cory say that Molly and Raz wouldn't be alive if it weren't for Violet giving them a second chance at life.
"She really shows that anything is possible."
What an amazing story of animals helping other animals – and kudos to the Plumlees for bringing them all together!
