Waylon was the 86th of 94 animals rescued that year. He arrived with another donkey named Willie. The pair needed placement because their former owner thought they were too aggressive.

But sometimes, tough guys just need a little love—and Waylon
quickly established himself as one of the friendliest residents at the Sanctuary.

He quickly took to people—Waylon loved to nuzzle or snuggle up alongside us. He was finally free to be himself and have fun—and he spent his days running and playing in the open fields, taking dust baths, and standing in front of the fans to keep cool on hot days.

In 1995, Waylon met the love of his life: a beautiful donkey named Bonnie. She had severe and chronic issues with her hooves, and Waylon was her constant companion. He would patiently stroll through the pastures with her, moving at a slow pace that was easy for her to maintain.

The two of them spent 18 long and beautiful years together, until Bonnie’s passing in 2013. As difficult as her loss was for Sanctuary staff, it must have been even harder for Waylon.

Though we could never replace a departed loved one, new friendships can help grieving animals heal. Enter a newly rescued miniature donkey, Albert.

At his previous home, Albert had developed a reputation as an escape artist. He kept breaking out, and because of this habit, he came to live at Farm Sanctuary. Before moving in with Waylon, Albert had been living with some of our resident sheep, but he seemed to be craving the companionship of another donkey.

It was a warm, sunny day when we introduced them. They were a little unsure about what to make of each other at first, but before we knew it, they were the best of friends.

Now, Waylon and Albert are rarely seen apart.

Waylon has had 23 amazing years at Farm Sanctuary and counting. We love this special boy and are so happy that he’s part of the Farm Sanctuary family!