October 4, 2024

Social media algorithms seem to know me pretty well. Specifically, they're onto the fact that I'll watch pretty much any animal story that crosses my path. Cute animal videos, rescue animal videos, animals in the wild videos. Bonus points if it's a sea turtle video - those I'll usually watch twice. This week I stumbled across the story of Petey the Seeing Eye Donkey.

Petey is a donkey who lives on a small farm with two horses, one of whom is Luna. Luna came to the farm as she was in the process of going blind, and now she has fully lost her sight. Petey has become Luna's seeing eye donkey, and Luna and Petey's humans share videos of their friendship. The two sleep in cozy stalls across from one another and each morning the first thing Petey does is walk across the barn to greet Luna. He then leads her outside where they enjoy grass under their feet and sunshine on their backs. When Luna wants to walk around the pasture she signals Petey and he leads the way. When she wants to go in, he again leads the way. Occasionally, Petey is seen encouraging Luna to take the lead herself, offering her gentle nudges and brays of assurance as she takes careful steps. 

The thing that makes their story especially beautiful is that Petey took this role on himself. No one has assigned him this task. He didn't interview for the job. Petey connected with Luna and decided, in his own donkey way, that is what friendship looks like. 

Don't animals have so much to teach us? I can't wait to welcome. celebrate, and bless them this Sunday as we celebrate the Feast of St. Francis. Though I do often wonder if it isn't they who actually bless us. My prayer for all of us this week is to be the people our animal friends think we are.