Donkey killing foal?

Question

We had a donkey and 3 miniature horses, a regular size horse and a new miniature foal. The donkey was in its own fenced in area, the regular size horse was in its own area, and the male miniature horses were in an area seperate from the mare and her foal. Well, when I went out to check on the miniature foal, I found out that the donkey had pulled her head threw a hole in the fence and had stomped it to death. There is also a 2-year-old living there, so we unfortunately had to shoot the donkey because of the danger with the infant. I just wanted to know if this was the right thing to do, and I could NOT of given away the donkey because of the dangers to children and other horses.

I couldn't have put the donkey down, as the vet couldn't come because of safety issues. Also, it wasn't my choice, with the little one around I was told that it had to be shot.

There was no visible hole in the fence when I checked just the other day, the donkey had managed to bend the fence. I have no clue how as these are electrical fences. Also, this donkey was showing aggresion towards people.

Answer 1

You did the right thing, considering all the factors you shared with us. Shooting, done properly is as humane as any veterinary euthanization. It is actually usually less dramatic, having witnessed a few of each method. Any equine that shows aggression toward animal or human is going to continue to do that given the opportunity. You can't take a chance where children are concerned. We do not have the right to judge whether you had this donkey properly fenced or whether it would have attacked. Mulereiner - you say that donkeys don't attack kids...did that not bother you when yours attacked your son's wagon, which I assume your son was attached to at the time???? Good Freaking God! You must be kidding!
Anyway, Jess, you did what you had to do, and don't look back. Next time, don't ask the opinion of the people here, though - they're a bunch of bunny-huggers.

Answer 2

I am definite that the suspense is killing you however she is going to drop the foal whilst she is in a position. The dates that you got can have been guestimates and whilst she remains to be consuming and consuming she is good and can drop whilst she is in a position. Probably whilst your again is grew to become! As for her measurement, that doesn't point out some thing! Like pregnant females a few have plenty of fluid protective the baby or foal within the womb, others have much less. Almost the most effective option to inform if a mare or jenny is approximately to foal is whilst the muscle tissues down the rump begin to calm down and there probably grooves jogging down the part of the highest of her tail. She could also be ready to be grew to become out - attempt to permit her out up to viable, along with her freind and she or he could suppose more secure to foal outside.

Answer 3

What a shame. This is a donkeys natural instinct to attack small things. Donkeys do not attack kids, they are natural guardians against coyotes etc. However, that being said, a donkey needs to be raised with those animals including foals. Its a shame when ppl buy animals and are not knowledgable in their instincts and history. Any mule/donkey person knows that foals are not to be kept with them and are to be seperated and it always is a possibility that together then will kill a foal. My son went out into the mule pasture with a Little Tykes wagon when he was about 4-5. My mule that was 3 stomped his wagon. Its called instinct and if your not prepared to deal with it, please give the animal to someone that is instead of killing it over it doing its job.

I would ask that you and your family please do not buy any more mules or donkeys.

Edited to add--melnoelle, some ppl shouldn't own jacks either unless they are trained with them. I personally wouldn't own a jack with a child around, but my donkey (gelding) wouldn't think of touching a person. My donkey also lives with goats, but has been raised around them. If your are going to take an animal on, training needs to be done. Just because its a donkey doesn't mean it doesnt need groundwork.

rockymtn- actually my son has been raised around mules and knew to just leave the wagon and walk away and no he wasn't attached to it LOL. Good freaking God :) And no, they don't attack kids unless they are spoiled rotten by the owners. Mules and donkeys aren't for everyone and I see alot of ppl here that shouldn't own them, let alone a horse or a rock pet.

I am pointing out instincts, which when ppl tend to humanize horses think that because they kill a foal they are evil. My mules and donk will kill my dog if given the chance. That is why my dog has voice commands and is mule trained. Easier to train the dog than reprimand instincts. My mules have killed dogs, range calves that have snuck in the fence and coyotes. Was it the mules fault?? nope

But like everyone said, the deed is done, i just hope that this serves as a reminder for people to do their homework on animals before getting one.

Answer 4

Donkeys and mules are both used in herds of horses,sheep and other herd animals,as a protector to keep everything out of the herd they live in. This can be predators such as coyotes,wolves,cougars or anything else that they see as an outside threat. The only problem is they also view new babies as an outside threat as well, so because it doesn't belong they kill it before it cam harm their herd. I have seen this happen to two different people I personally know, in one case the foal was killed in the other they saw it happening and were able to intervene. The way to deal with this is either keep the donkey away until the foal is old enough and is accepted as part of the herd and then reintroduce him back into the herd or not have them if you plan to breed. Shooting the donkey may not have been the best way to deal with it,but you can't change it now. If you plan get any new animals you haven't dealt with before maybe take the time to read up and learn about them first.

Answer 5

I agree with ReinerTrainer

I had a donkey that killed a pygmy goat by stomping on it.
Donkeys were bred to protect herds of animals from preditors such as wolves, and coyotes, this is why it is a very bad idea to let donkeys near pet dogs. Donkeys can often get confused and think that other animals (such as goats) are a threat to their herd. I gaurentee the donkey killed the foal because it didn't know what it was, and saw it as a threat to the herd. Your donkey would not have touched a 2 year old child, I have been around donkeys my entire life, including the one that stomped on the goat, I have never seen a donkey that was aggressive towards people (but then again all the donkeys I have been around have been well trained)

In all honestly, killing the donkey was most likely a way too harsh of a descision, but you can't go back in time. It is in the donkey's instincts to be defensive of their herd, this is why fully researching an animal is very important before you get it. You should really have kept the donkey away from small unfamiliar animals, and animals seen as preditors. Your donkey was just acting on its instincts...

Answer 6

There was a foal born in the wild. After considrable time, the foal still could not stand. While the mother was grazing, a herd stallion picked the foal up by the neck and shook it to death. (This incident is on you-tube.) Does this make this stallion aggressive? mentally unbalanced? dangerous to man? Of course not! The donkey should never have been that close to the foal and mare. And I would have expected you to have all the holes in the fences repaired. This had to have been a fair sized hole. Please be sure all fences are in correct order and you get all the holes fixed in all the fences.

Answer 7

that was up to you, I personally would of done the same thing, as I have worked with animals alot and find most are stressed when given away when they have only known one home, if the animal was hard to handle then bring a vet out would of just stressed it out more. It's better to put down an animal fast and with as little stress as possible and a bullet is the fastest, people always think it is cruel, it's because they think an injection is better, but that is way more stressful to an animal that has to stand still and have a needle put in it's arm or neck, some of the restraint required to give an injection seems cruel to me.
So a bullet is a fast death for an animal that was unfriendly, so it was the best thing in this case.
killing an animal is not animal cruelty anyone with education knows that

Answer 8

Well what's done is done and you did what you thought was right at the time. If you truly felt this action help to keep the two year old safe you were correct in your actions. Others might disagree with you, but you are the one living with this situation and do not let other rule what you feel is right. Perhaps for future knowledge you should study the behaviors and instincts of animals that you obtain. but as I have said if you feel you were protecting your two year old you were correct in your actions.

Answer 9

its not uncommon for a donkey to be very aggressive when there are foals around and you should not let them be near there foals or any other foal because of their aggressive behavior. you probably didn't need to put the Donkey down because of this but what is done is done so don't worry about it, it was probably the best thing to do at the time.

Answer 10

it was the right thing to do!!!!! we had a donkey at our farm. we have 75 head of cattle 9 horses and (used) to have a donkey.
We got the donkey to breed with one of our mares to make a mule...
anyways, the donkey was really aggressive to all the calves he would bite all the tails off...he was a real asshole! pun intended
then one day my husband was out doing chores and the donkey came up from behind him, the donkey knocked him to the ground and started biting my husbands skin off his back while the donkey was biting him he also was pounding his hooves into his chest! i was right there while it was happening! it looked as though he was trying to kill my husband! i was kicking the donkey and some how my husband got out from under the donkey. he tore 3 big sections of skin off his back and neck!
my husband went directly in the house got one of the guns and shot the donkey!!!!!!! then we drove to the ER!
to this day my hubby has huge ugly scares to remind him of that horrible day!

So yes, you did the right thing! just imagine if this happened to a 2 year old!

BTW, don't listen to these extremists that say Animals don't know what they are doing!! They most certainly do know. Those people have obviously never been around animals other then dogs and cats. Large animals like that can and DO kill people!