A life like in paradise
Donkey Grison and the cats Nougat and Nougatine hit the jackpot
Grison’s owner was old and ill and passed away. When the donkey was discovered, he was standing in the man’s garden without food or water, waiting. For what? For someone to come along who would recognise his fate and find him a new forever home. That’s exactly what happened and for a few weeks now, the handsome donkey Grison has been getting used to his new home at Gut Aiderbichl in Moulins, France.
And Nougat and Nougatine’s owners had also passed away, so Nougat and Nougatine lived alone for a fortnight until the community contacted the manager of Gut Aiderbichl in Moulins and asked to take in the two five-year-old cats. They now spend their lives in the old castle cellar.
Nougat and nougatine fit wonderfully into the castle with their elegance
An old, dreamy country castle stands in the middle of 60 hectares of land, surrounded by countless centuries-old trees. A secure wall surrounds the grounds. High hedges, ponds, lush meadows and modern stables offer the animal inhabitants peace, protection and security.
Louis, the caretaker, has set up his office in the castle and, together with his trained team, looks after the guests: the animals.
Nougat and Nougatine like to lie in a cosy cat bed in the office and get an extra portion of cuddles from Louis. They love to explore the extensive grounds, meet other cats in the various stables and lead a good, sheltered life in freedom and at the same time protection and love. The cats are counted every evening – they all stay in the grounds, because who would give up a life in paradise?
Where Grisons soul found a home
From the old man’s garden, eight-year-old donkey Grison was led onto the Gut Aiderbichl animal transporter a few weeks ago and the short journey ended behind the walls of the huge Gut Aiderbichl France site in Moulins. Over 120 horses, 67 cats and seven dogs, as well as the donkeys Amaury, Aristide and Petunia greeted the new arrival.
Grison likes the new life
Grison is no longer alone, but Amaury (17 years), Aristide (16 years) and Petunia (17 years) keep him company and walk around the large grounds with Grison. And that’s fun. First breakfast, then grooming and a little cuddling with the keepers, then the morning walk begins.
When the weather permits, Grison and his friends can sleep outside under a sheltered barn and if it’s cold or thunderstorms are brewing, the donkeys have a large, protective barn at their disposal.
The donkey is neither stupid nor stubborn
When Grison arrived, he was a little disturbed by his past life situation. Now it was time for Grison to trust and learn that the food and water at Gut Aiderbichl would not run out, but would always be available.
In keeping with his species, it is also important that Grison can now share his life with his friends Amaury, Aristide and Petunia and is not lonely and alone somewhere. He also feels that the people here mean well by the animals and that everything is done to make donkeys, horses, dogs and cats happy.
Donkeys are thinkers and philosophers and you get the impression that Grison thinks a lot about his new life in the animal community and has come to the conclusion that he couldn’t have done better.
Sometimes they sit in front of you with eyes so melting, so tender and so human that they almost scare you, because it is impossible to believe that there is no soul in them.
– Théophile Gautier (1811 – 1872), French storyteller, poet and critic
From: Gisela Pschenitschnig, Gut Aiderbichl
