Xaverl has chosen
donkey heaven
Xaverls history is characterized by everything: by neglect, by pain, by love and care until the end.
The gentle catalan giant donkey with a height of about 160 cm, black body fur, white fur on the belly and light rimmed donkey eyes, came in 2011 at the age of 15 to Gut Aiderbichl Iffeldorf.
An animal welfare activist should be Xaverl's guardian angel and enabled the donkey with the good-natured eyes to find a new path to a good life.
Before Xaverl's discovery by the animal welfare activist he had lived with a shepherd. Xaverl had pain in his legs and hooves, and he was actually destined for slaughter. He was operated and his legs recovery progressed well.
Soon the costs exceeded the possibilities of the animal protector and she sought help from Michael Aufhauser, founder of Gut Aiderbichl. He and Hansi Süß, then administrator of Gut Aiderbichl Iffeldorfpromised Xaverl a species-appropriate home without worries and without the risk of being slaughtered.
Xaverl settled in very well and seemed to be an all around happy donkey. He enjoyed the daily proud walks around the farm and leered at the petting of visitors, who sometimes could not believe how big a donkey could be.
If he had been sitting in a school class, he would have been certainly the smartest and well-behaved student. He was attentive, not pushy, his eyes looked wise and when you petted him and talked to him, he gently moved his ellipses and respondedin his special languageto the questions of the people.
Despite surgery, the hooves never fully recovered. X-rays showed that both front hoof bones were severely altered. Xaverl was to be helped with special therapies. He thanked with zest of life and his friendly "IAH!".
The condition worsened and a few days ago Xaverl did not want to get up. His beloved walk was out of question. The animal keepers left no stone unturned, but Xaverl's eyes signaled to the vet and the animal keepers: accompany me to the Rainbow Bridge.
The sadness of the animals, who felt that one of them was leaving, and a long flow of tears, caresses and soft words of love from the people accompanied Xaverl to the first step into donkey heaven.
We will never forget our great one. "Tha mas leipsis, Xaverl" - we will miss you Xaverl.
Kane to kela, Take care, Xaverl
