Obama the earless donkey
Pubblicato il 26 September 2018.It is impossible not to notice him in Rufus group: with his cropped ears, Obama, a lovely brown donkey rescued in Romania when he was a few months old, is really unique and unforgettable. Many visitors, after meeting him here at our Rifugio, has asked us more about him, fearing he was the victim of human violence.
Actually, his peculiarity is not a consequence of mistreatment: both his ears were amputated by our vet to avoid that sarcoids (skin tumors very common among donkeys) could spread all over his body.
It was not a simple choice, but it was definitely the lesser evil: the previous, softer therapies didn't work and the risk of metastasis was too high.
One year and a half ago, Obama has undergone the operation. Before and after the surgery, as during his convalescence, his friend GIno stood by his side. He din't care at all of his bandaged stumps: of course Gino noticed them (as you know, nothing gets past the donkeys), but probably he just thought that below those ears, long or short, there was the usual Obama.
And maybe it was the same thought of the donkeys in Rufus's stable, where Obama came back after his wounds were totally recovered: none of them ever isolated, bullied or avoided him for his half-cropped ears... a big lessons for all of those who still think that "donkey" is an offence.
P. S. If you're asking yourself if Obama can still hear... the answer is: absolutely yes! If you spend some time looking at him, you will notice that he moves his ears as every other donkye does - the only difference is that his ears are shorter.
P .P. S. Sadly, sarcoids are hard enemies to fight and recidivism can always happen. Obama and other donkeys who suffered for tumors are strictly monitored, so that we can notice potential new sarcoids when they start to grow and act without delay.
Therapies are very expensive: if you wish, you can help by making a donation. Thank you on behalf of Obama and every other donkeys!