Six donkeys shot, five killed
By Elaine Forman
Garry and Bonnie Loomis are nursing a week-old donkey, trying to keep it alive, after its mother and five other donkeys were shot along Sheffield Road on Friday night or Saturday morning. Four died in the field. The mother died on Sunday, and the other donkey is alive as of Tuesday morning but is being monitored.
“It’s totally senseless,” Bonnie said in a telephone interview Tuesday morning.
Custer County Deputy Dave Power said the shooting occurred on Sheffield Road about a half mile from Highway 59.
Bonnie said that even though the mother was dying, she still stood so her filly could nurse. “That’s how loving they are.”
She said one of the jennies killed was pregnant and ready to give birth any time.
“They didn’t die right away. They suffered. ... It’s just evil — that’s all it is,” Bonnie said.
The Loomis couple adopted a jack and a jenny, and all the rest are descended from them.
“We’ve had them 12 years. It’s a terrible tragedy. We’ve lost sleep over it. We just want whoever did this caught. I can’t believe anyone could be that cruel,” Bonnie said.
The Loomis’ 17 grandchildren adored the donkeys. Many friends would go visit the animals. One friend was taking her two young grandchildren to go see the donkeys Saturday when she discovered them dead.
“These donkeys were like a part of our family. They were the most gentle, docile, loving animals. They were our pets,” Bonnie said.
Now they have just a yearling, the week-old filly, and the older one that was shot.
Power said killing livestock is a felony. Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call the Custer County Sheriff’s Office at 874-3320.
I hope they get these guys.