HILLARY RESCUED

by Bob Walsh

OK, this particular Hillary is a donkey. (For that matter, maybe the other one is too.) In any event she and her herd used to hang out in the middle of what used to be a more or less dry lake bed in Mariposa County, California but two years ago the lake started to fill up again. The rest of the herd beat feet but Hillary didn't, possibly in part due to a leg injury. She ended up stranded on a 1.3 acre island in the middle of Lake McClure.

She became something of a local celebrity and people would bring her food. She did OK, but donkeys are very social animals and doing a solo gig is not good for their overall health and outlook on life.

Finally a bunch of folks got together with fish and game and went to go rescue her. It was difficult because she declined to be rescued. They finally had to dart her.

In any event she is now in a quarantine pen near Sacramento at a facility run by Peacefully Valley Donkey Rescue. Her leg injury will be treated and she will be allowed to live out the rest of her life with Bill, Monica and other members of the donkey herd.

(Actually I just made up that last part. I don't know if they have any donkeys named Bill and Monica. But they damn well should.)