Obituary donkey Paulinchen

Is it this time full of unrest, is it the coming Advent season and Christmas that makes people so thoughtful and sad and makes them cry? Or is it simply the fact that Paulinchen, our Paulinchen Mäuschen, as we called her, saw her time had come and closed her eyes forever?

Paulinchen came to an animal welfare organisation many years ago, together with Fridolin II the donkey, who wanted to give them a safe and good home. Paulinchen suffered from severe laminitis as a young donkey and unfortunately was also diagnosed with Cushing’s disease. When she came to the animal welfare organisation with Fridolin II, who had been too small for breeding from birth, Paulinchen was so ill and weak that she could neither walk nor stand. Due to financial problems, the lady’s stable had to be closed, and so Paulinchen and Fridolin II came to Gut Aiderbichl in Henndorf.

Due to the devoted care Paulinchen received, she was in a stable state of health on the day of admission. Fridolin II was a little too wild for Paulinchen and she savoured every opportunity to retreat to her new home and enjoy the peace and quiet. The seasons Paulinchen loved best were spring and the warm summer. That’s when she really came alive.

After a while at the new yard, Paulinchen-Mäuschen made friends with Mimma (we called her Mimi), a pony from the circus. Mimi had shortened tendons in her hind legs and limped a little. Every day, the two friends took a leisurely, stress-free stroll around the yard. Sometimes Mimi leant against the fence by the donkey stable and slept in the sun. Paulinchen was close beside her, as if she wanted to protect her friend.
Unfortunately, Mimi died, leaving Paulinchen behind, who withdrew again and never gave up looking for Mimi.
After Mimi’s death, the pony Silver fell in love with Paulinchen. It was as if the sensitive pony Silver put a protective mantle around his girlfriend, who clearly enjoyed this care.

Unfortunately, Paulinchen’s condition deteriorated noticeably. She became weaker and it was as if even the vet was at his wit’s end. Silver wouldn’t leave her side and, like us, felt that something sad was coming for us all.
A few days ago, Paulinchen stopped getting up. She seemed tired and fragile. With a heavy heart and a big lump in her throat, it was decided to fulfil Paulinchen’s wish: “Let me go, my time has come”. Silver stood there and touched her mouth very tenderly with his lips. An incredible, touching moment between Silver and his Paulinchen.
Silently and peacefully, Paulinchen fell asleep in the presence of her keepers. Silver hung his head and searches for his friend Paulinchen every day.