Ms. Abigail is where she needs to be, for sure. She’s getting good care and help for her needs. 
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Oh, poor Abigail. I hope something can be done for her.
Lucky she is with you!
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I’m going to call the vet hospital and start pricing out diagnostics.
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@moonlitoaksranch. Oh those holding pens are terrible and the round ups look brutal. No telling what kind of physical abuse happened (from getting knocked around by other animals, not people) and the stress must be really bad on the donkeys. I’ve heard it’s harder on them than it is on horses.
A friend in CA adopted two burros. She was amazed at how quickly they accepted her being around them. She said they are the smartest animals she’s ever handled.
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There’s a notice posted on the BLM’s website stating that they may not honor the Adoption Incentive Program. In other words, I won’t get the $500 at one year after adoption. That’s about what her X-rays will cost. I could’ve used that money for her.
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Why not? Does this have to do with budget cuts?
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Yep
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It is actually not because of budget cuts, it is because Sky Dog Sanctuary sued the BLM over the AIP program saying it incentivizes slaughter…which doesn’t really make sense because it would be way more economical to just buy sale authority animals for $25 and ship them immediately vs. holding on to them for a year, paying for care and a vet check.
I am in the same boat, got my mustang in July and as of now will not get the $1,000. I would have adopted him anyway, but that money is definitely nice to cover the unexpected vet bills that come with taking on an animals without even being able to physically examine them.
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Oh wow, you’re right!
I didn’t expect that. I get their point, but for those if doing it right, it’s a real shame. If the BLM would require proof that you still have the animal at the one year point so you could collect the AIP? Wouldn’t it be nice if those of us who have been working with these animals all year long could happily show some proof that we still have the burro or mustang we adopted and added to our family? Why punish us?
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The logical step would be to increase inspections and get more strict about the vet sign off prior to receiving the payment which the BLM was doing already…I think the “sanctuaries” goals are really just to tie up the BLM in court any way that they can 
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Abigail was the best girl for the farrier today. We don’t get their feet trimmed much over winter (they just don’t grow and the ice/snow wears them down). She was so good even though her back might be ouchy.
Her appointment at the university is in late April.
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I thought this lovely video of burros in the desert belongs here
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The ending was interesting with the shadows creating strange shapes as the donkeys moved along the trails. That last donkey in line didn’t move as well as the others.
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Tony would like to interrupt this Abigail love fest to say that, he too, is a good boy (sometimes).
He’s learned to fetch.
IMG_4468
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What an awesome boy! 
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This channel has a series of drone footage of animals at the watering holes and the shadows are spectacular.
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Tony is a good boy! 
Especially as he’s probably figured out by now that life will be good even if he isn’t.
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Abigail’s appointment at the vet school is next week. I’m bringing Tony as her emotional support donkey, lol. I also found an equine chiropractor that can see her after the appointment, if nothing is broken and body work is recommended. I guess it’s a far cry from the wild Nevada desert where she came from!
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