Case Details

Miniature donkey stolen
Barrington, NH (US)

Incident Date: Saturday, Apr 15, 2006
County: Strafford
Disposition: Open
Case Images: 1 files available

Suspect(s) Unknown - We need your help!

Case ID: 8138
Classification: Theft
Animal: other farm animal
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A Barrington woman is alleging foul play in the case of her missing baby donkey.

Roberta Henderson, 53, claims the unnamed 3-week-old jack, as male donkeys are known, was snatched from her 10-acre farm on the evening of April 15 while she and her husband went out for dinner.

"I don't care about anything: Just bring the donkey back," Henderson said. "I only care about the donkey."

The missing jack, whose coat could be described as a light shade of red, is one of 32 miniature donkeys on the Henderson family farm. Prized for their cuteness, miniature donkeys grow to a height of 3 feet and can be worth as much as $5,000.

If purloined, the donkey's life could be at risk. Henderson's jack is not yet old enough to eat grains, but rather depends on its mother's milk for nutrients.

"It's just very tragic, really, that someone on a lark would do this, because it's just going to make the animal suffer," said Ellen Dahlstet, who sits on the board of directors of the National Miniature Donkey Association.

Henderson said she and her husband, Dana, went to check on their donkeys upon returning home from dinner around 8:15 p.m. Saturday. The Hendersons, who also own four pygmy goats and several Labrador retrievers, have been raising donkeys in Barrington for 14 years.

Though most of the animals roam freely by day, Henderson said, the couple locks them in the family's barn each night. This time, however, they noticed one of the farm's six baby donkeys was missing. Its mother, Hennah, was behaving strangely.

"The mother was frantically looking for it, running up and down the fence line, because she knows that's her baby," Henderson said.

Miniature donkeys are herd animals and do not tend to separate from the pack, according to the national association. Henderson said she scoured her property, just in case, but she flatly rejects any suggestion that the jack might have run away.

At 35 pounds, she notes, the jack would not have been difficult to lift.

"Someone just scooped him up and took off with him," Henderson said.

Barrington Police say the department is on the case.

"There's no indication it's on the farm anywhere, so we are going to assume that it has been stolen," Sgt. William Neenan said. "We don't have any leads at this time, but the case is under investigation."

Henderson said she is pained to think that someone unschooled in donkey rearing might have snatched the jack as an Easter present. Her own Easter, she said, was ruined by grief.

"I don't even feel like eating," she said. "I just feel so sick."

Henderson said she'll gladly offer an unspecified reward to anyone who can give information about the donkey's whereabouts.

"I'm just trying everything I can," she said. "I am so worried about the welfare of this animal. I just don't want it to die."

Anyone with information can call the Barrington Police at 664-7679.

If you have information on this case, please contact:
Barrington Police
664-7679

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References

Union Leader - April 16, 2006

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