Mr. G was 10 years old when he arrived at a California sanctuary and stopped eating. He had shared a home with Jellybean, a donkey who had become his inseparable companion, for his entire life. They both lived on the property of a woman who had accumulated dozens of animals and could no longer care for them. When the authorities stepped in, two sanctuaries offered to help, but Mr. G went to one and Jellybean to the other.
They were separated to save their lives, without anyone imagining that the decision would put one of them in danger.
After an eight-hour journey, Mr. G arrived at the Animal Place rescue center in California. However, instead of exploring his new home, he lay in a corner of the barn, barely lifting his head. He didn’t want to eat anything at all.
His caregivers tried tempting him with molasses, sweet grains, apples, and even moistened food, but the animal rejected everything. They had to help him get up to keep him from lying down for too long.
Veterinary examinations revealed no physical problem that could explain his behavior. His caregivers came to the conclusion that Mr. G was suffering from Jellybean’s absence, the companion he had spent a decade with.
After four days without eating, they made a decision: they would bring her back. The transfer took another three days, but finally the moment of reunion arrived.
When Jellybean entered the barn, Mr. G lifted his head and looked at her twice, as if he couldn’t believe what he was seeing. Then he began sniffing her, quickly got to his feet, and followed her out to the pasture.
And the thing their caregivers had been trying to make happen for days finally happened: Mr. G started eating again, straight from Jellybean’s bowl.
The bond between them was so deep that Animal Place decided never to separate them again. Instead of putting them up for adoption, the sanctuary welcomed them as permanent residents of its 600-acre property.
After ten years together, Mr. G and Jellybean had lost their old home, but they wouldn’t have to lose each other.