1985 - December 13, 2006
Rosie was a standard donkey jennet. I bought her from a donkey trader back in 1994 as a companion for my jack, Mo. When we went out to take a look at the donkeys that he had for sale, he was showing us around and showing us the donkeys when we came to Rosie. He told us that she was one of those "gub'ment" jennies. This meaning that she was a BLM wild donkey that had been adopted out at some point. I thought it was funny the way that he kept saying "gub'ment" instead of government. His pronunciation was very funny to me. I thought the donkey was very sweet for having been a wild donkey and I decided to buy her. I decided to name her "Gub'ment Rosie" on her ADMS registration paperwork, as a joke. I always just called her Miss Rosie.
Rosie was so sweet, she soon became my favorite donkey. You would never have guessed that she was wild because she haltered and lead very well and she would load in a trailer and stand perfectly still for the farrier. She was a very sweet donkey. She was probably in her twenties when I got her, but the vet checked her out and he said she was in good health so I bred her with Mo. The next year she had a beautiful baby jack on Valentines day. We named him Sir Valentino. He looked exactly like his daddy, his nickname was Mo Jr.
Rosie was an exceptional mother and although she really wasn't much to look at herself, she always had beautiful babies. Her next foal was another jack, but this time he was dark brown so we named him Hershey's Special Dark. He was a very sweet baby, just like his mom.
After Hershey, Rosie had a jennet foal, Savannah. She was equally beautiful and personable as well.
After Savannah was weaned, Rosie was bred again and became pregnant. However, she suffered a miscarriage mid-way through her pregnancy. We let her rest for a year then bred her again. Once again, she suffered another miscarriage mid-way through her pregnancy. So, we had the vet come draw blood to check her out and see what was wrong. The vet determined that at that time, Rosie was just getting too old to carry a foal to term and she was beginning to suffer from liver and kidney problems due to age. So, we decided at that time to retire her from being a broodmare and just let her be a nanny going forward.
From that point forward, her new nickname became "Aunt Rosie". Whenever a foal was born, I would put Rosie in with the new mom and the foal. Rosie would stay with the mom and the baby and actually babysit the newborn and help raise it. It was very interesting to watch because none of the new mothers would get defensive about having Rosie around. They would let her come around their new babies. Rosie would discipline the babies and keep them in line when they were being naughty. Lots of times, the babies thought they had two moms.
After many years of being retired and doing nanny duty, I noticed that Rosie was having trouble hearing and seeing. I would walk up to her in the pasture and she wouldn't hear me coming and I would scare her accidentally when I touched her or if I walked up to her from behind. I had the vet look at her again and he told me that she had developed cataracts in both eyes. However, she knew her way around the property, so it wasn't a problem for her. She was eating well and she was otherwise healthy so I didn't worry about it.
Lately, I noticed that Rosie seemed a little depressed. She seemed to be distancing herself from the herd. I was worried that she wasn't feeling well or that she might be getting sick. Then, I got sick myself and I was home from work. I looked out the window to check on the supply of hay to make sure they had enough to eat. That's when I saw Rosie lying on her side away from the herd. I went out into the pasture to check on her. I was calling her name as I approached her but she didn't move. As I got closer I could tell that she had already passed away. I kneeled down beside her and put my hand on her neck. She was still very warm. She must have passed not long before I found her. She looked as though she had just been sleeping there. I'd like to think that it was very peaceful and that she was having a wonderful dream about something that made her happy.
I took a section of her mane to keep and Rosie was laid to rest at Pine Hill Pet and Horse Cemetery in Bowie, Texas. She is buried in my family plot along with many of my other pets.
Rosie will be missed.
If tears could build a stairway,
and memories could build a lane,
I'd walk right up to heaven
and bring you home again....
Just this side of Heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.
"When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There
are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food
and water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable. All the animals who had been ill and old are
restored to health and vigor; those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember
them in our dreams of days and times gone by.
The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing: they miss someone very special to them; who had
to be left behind.
They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. The bright
eyes are intent; the eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to break away from the group, flying over the green
grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster. YOU have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally
meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your
hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from
your life but never absent from your heart.
Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together......."
(~Anonymous)
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Last Revised: Wednesday December 13, 2006