Memorials of SYA
Elmo
1999 - 2025
Elmo was an extremely bright soul, who brought surreal joy to all who met him. There was not a single person who met this goofy guy who did not immediately fall in love with his charms. He was exceptionally kind and gentle, even with the tiniest of babies. He loved to bray for his supper letting the whole neighborhood know it was time for mash. He spent a lot of time with his Tonge sticking out which was comical to witness. He also loved his mother Maddie, who he was bonded to. They could often be found sunbathing together in the pasture, laid out in the sun like two baking potatoes.
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Elmo had a great many people who loved him in his wonderful 28 years of life. These two have had many wonderful owners, and have helped a lot of people through tough times. They came back to SYA in the summer of 2024 and we knew this would be their last home, so we did not put them up for adoption. Elmo started to decline very quickly in January of 2025, we suspect it was a bout of winter laminitis. Elmo had a wonderfully long life, but the spark in his eyes was fading and we wanted him to leave this world with his dignity in tact. Elmo left the world with his head on my lap as I whispered to him just how loved he was. He passed very peacefully on January 27th 2025.
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If you loved Elmo and would like to leave a donation in his memory his donations will help to care for other donkeys and mules that need to come back to SYA or that are currently in our care, such as Elmo's mom, Maddie.
Maddie
1982 - 2025
We let Maddie go, on a good day August 2025, with lots of apples and all the senior mash she could eat. While in our care, Maddie choked for the 6th time since she’d been with us in a year and a half. She had started to choke on everything, even her mash and short grass. Her nasal passages had started to narrow, as well as her esophagus which was causing her to choke repeatedly and making it almost impossible to treat or pass a tube. At that point we knew this was the last time this could happen, I did not want to wait until she was suffering and scared during a choke to let her go. We made the decision to let her go on a good day, and as hard as it is I’m glad we did. With the help of our vet Dr. Jesse, volunteer Sage, and our cat Siggy we walked Maddie down to her favorite resting spot, where her and Elmo used to nap together next to the brook. Elmo is buried there and now so will Maddie.
“Grief, is only all the love you want to give, with no where to go.” That’s exactly what it feels like. I was not prepared for these two donkeys to change my life so drastically in just over a year. Elmo was laid to rest in the middle of winter, and Maddie had not been the same without her son. As spry as she still was, and as amazing as she looks right now, it was her time. 43 years old is a darn good run. But it was time for a mother son reunion. I have no doubt I, and all the other friends of hers who have loved Maddie so dearly, will see her and Elmo again someday, and what a reunion it will be. These two plucky little donkeys have taught so many kids, and have had a life full of love. I will never stop missing or loving them both. Until next time Maddie. Give Elmo a smooch from Hattie and I.