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ALL animals are dependent upon humans for their quality of life and their survival. This includes DONKEYS.
HARRY onced lived on a hillside pasture. It was situated just off the west side of 101 between SLO and Avila, on Ontario Road. He was a famous countywide Donkey of sorts. People would drive by along the highway, honk their horn, smile and wave to HARRY on their excursions to and from work and various outings.
HARRY also had many admirers who would stop by his pasture abode and offer up an ol' scratch on the ear, and some human snacks like bags of chips, crackers and cookies. Ol' HARRY loved to chomp away at these mouth-watering morsals which made him become very plump and fat. These human tasty treats also made HARRY very sick. But how was he to know these were not good for him. For HARRY, afterall, was only a loveable, cuddly, little ol' DONKEY.
HARRY'S owners or guardians lived hundreds of miles away. They left him there alone to fend for himself. In fact, HARRY'S guardians acquired him when they bought the land he was on. They figured all HARRY was good for was a donkey-powered lawnmower.
During the winter, it rained very hard. The ground become so saturated with water, there was flooding all around the county. This included HARRY'S pasture. Poor, poor HARRY was stuck out in the bone-chilling wind and the rain, there in the thick sloppy mud. He was drenched - soaking wet and sick. HARRY had no roof over his head to escape from the elements, as his make-shift metal shelter had blown down.
Poor ol' HARRY was destitude and alone. His "EEE-HAAAW" cries for help went unnoticed. For passersby thought HARRY had owners that were taking care of him. But they weren't. They were nowhere to be found. As HARRY stood knee-deep in mud, the stomach infection from ingesting all those human snacks soon circulated to his feet.
The seasons soon changed, which brought on the sometimes unbearable sun-burning heat down one's back. HARRY still had no cover to retreat from feeling so hot. Worst of all, HARRY had no water. His water trough was bone dry. And what little water he ever had was from an unattended, contaminated well. HARRY was in dire straights. He was horrifically dehydrated, weak, and very ill from a now systemic infection. HARRY became so fraile, he would fall down, landing in barbed wire and sheet metal laden in his pasture. The opened wounds HARRY sustained only added to his ongoing infection. HARRY was left alone, dying in his pasture. And to think, only a few yards away, the vitality of life of the community wizzed passed him.
HARRY did have some 'earth angels,' desperately trying to rescue him. But his owners, hundreds of miles away, refused to relinquish him. Why should they care?! Afterall, to them HARRY was only their 4-legged lawnmower.
Finally, some animal rescuers realized the life-threatening perile HARRY was in. They would not take no for an answer from his owners. These angelic rescuers stepped right up to bat for HARRY - he received immediate veterinary attention and a new place to live with 24 hour, round the clock care. For one week, the veterinarian and rescue-caregivers worked desperately to save HARRY. He received fluids, medication, special diet, a bath - all the TLC anybody could hope for.
Gravely ill as HARRY was, his eyes flickered with humbled delight over all the attention. He even rallied there for awhile. And then it came. HARRY'S little body had waged the war of its life. He had given an heroic fight. The compilation over the years of the wrong food; contaminated water to no water at all; braving the elements without adequate shelter; and the cruelty of abandonment and inhumane neglect from uncaring owners was just too much for any animal to survive - this time it was HARRY'S.
HARRY layed down for the last time. His precious little body trembled. His face twitched and he closed his eyes. And with one last deep sigh, HARRY was gone.
HARRY'S life came to a tragic end due to human abadonment, cruelty, neglect and ignorance. He lived less than half his life before it was inhumanely taken from him. Donkeys can easily live to be 40. But at 17, HARRY'S death, he would never get that chance. HARRY would never have that opportunity to see what the second half of his life would be like.
"HARRY'S HEROES"
Over 10 million innocent animals die each year due to neglect, cruelty and abandonment by humans. One death is one too many. As HARRY'S friends, we ask that you take the pledge with us to "educate and eliminate" all animal cruelty, abuse and neglect. Become one of "HARRY'S HEROES" today and donate in behalf of HARRY, to the PALS Foundation's "HARRY THE DONKEY FUND." This fund and account has been set up in his name and in honor of his life. ALL proceeds benefit HARRY'S aftercare (burial site maintenance), and his legacy - "the humane education, prevention and elimination of all animal pain and suffering."
Donations of all amounts will be humbly accepted. They are also tax deductible in accordance by law. Checks may be made payable to: "HARRY THE DONKEY FUND" and mailed in care of The PALS Foundation, Post Office Box 1271, San Luis Obispo, CA 93406, USA. For more information, please call PALS at 805-544-0984 or visit the HARRY THE DONKEY website at www.HarryTheDonkeyFund.r8.org We also invite you to visit the PALS Foundation website at www.PALS.r8.org
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