Putting a boot into our original Easter plans… COMPLETED 5/3 - Page 16 - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
As of January 1, 2019, we have closed our forums. This is a decision we did not come to lightly, but it is necessary. The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk. The server software itself must be updated, and it cannot be without removing the forums.
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There are other changes as well.
Why? Well, the world has changed. And change with it, we must. The lyrics to "We Go On" for IllumiNations say it best:
We go on to the joy and through the tears
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Moving on with the current of the years.
We go on
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It's time to move on and move forward.
PassPorter is a small business, and for many years it supported our family. But the world changed, print books took a backseat to the Internet, and for a long time now it has been unable to make ends meet. We've had to find new ways to support our family, which means new careers and less and less time available to devote to our first baby, PassPorter.
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So we are retiring this newsletter, as we simply cannot keep up with it. Many thanks to Mouse Fan Travel who supported it all these years, to All Ears and MousePlanet who helped us with news, to our many article contributors, and -- most importantly -- to Sara Varney who edited our newsletter so wonderfully for years and years.
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I too was thinking the same about your title! That's quite an interesting event with the tea event here and not what I'd expect here! Very interesting with the vets and glad you got to experience this as perfect for you as you learned and got so much out of it!
Oh gosh completely. I'm so glad we were able to get to it.
Saturday 31 March – part four: the sad tale of Laurel and Hardy
Next at the Donkey Sanctuary, it was over to the Main Barn to find my two adopted girls, Ruby and Bonnie. They couldn’t be any more different from the minis if you tried, as they’re both the largest in the herd and they’re well known as being the trouble makers in the herd. I wonder why I love them…
Ruby wasn’t in the mood for photos, so I did my best with her…
See what I mean about her size?
Bonnie was being a bit more cooperative though.
This is what I call “donkey grooming”. I have no idea if it’s the right term or not, but it works for me. Essentially, it’s when two donkeys groom each other and it is so cute to watch.
What I also love about donkeys is their ingenuity. This guy had an itch and was scratching himself on the hay troughs.
How do I know he’s a guy? Well, if they have a red neck band, they’re male and if they have a yellow one, then they’re girls. A green band means an extra feed and an orange one means they’re on medication. There are others for two and three extra feeds a day, but you don’t normally see those and I can’t remember the colours. I want to say blue and black, but I’m not 100% sure…
The neck bands, by the way, are carefully designed to come off when the donkeys play, as they like to play the game “let’s remove my friend’s neck band” and obviously you don’t want a donkey being throttled by their band. We saw quite a few without neck bands the next day, so I guess they were having some fun today!
While we were there, a volunteer who we know from our previous visits came over to say that there was a talk about to take place about Laurel and Hardy and that they were very special donkeys. I’d seen the talk listed, but wasn’t going to go, but now I was intrigued. She accompanied us over to the talk, making sure I was Ok on my scooter the whole way, which I was very grateful for and ensuring that I parked up in a spot where I’d have a good view. Now again, some people were brilliant about not blocking my view and telling their kids not to, whereas others just barged in front of me. It was interesting to see how differently different people behaved…
The story of Laurel and Hardy was truly heart breaking. They showed photos of the state they were in when they arrived at the sanctuary and how those poor animals were even able to stand, I do not know. Their hooves were literally curling around and they must have been in so much pain. I don’t understand how people can do this to any creature.
The talk also explained how the sanctuary takes in donkeys, like Laurel and Hardy, who have been mistreated, but also donkeys where their owners become unable to cope with them for whatever reason. If you think that the average lifespan of a donkey in the UK is 32 years, that’s a long time to commit to having an animal and your health may go downhill rapidly in that time.
They also foster out donkeys, which we’d learn more about later, to caring homes, where they have at least one acre per donkey and of course the owners are very carefully vetted. What I didn’t realise is that, if something happens to the new owners or their circumstances change, the Donkey Sanctuary reserves the right to take them back, which was nice.
As the talk was done with a microphone and speakers, Laurel and Hardy were understandably wary for much of the talk, but they did become more curious and came forward, so we got a good look at them. At one point, they went into their shed and Hardy happily rolled all over the straw, which was lovely to see. You could tell their lives now were so much happier here.
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Awww, the consecutive shots of Bonnie walking towards you. So cute!!!
Lovely story with Laurel and Hardy. Makes me think of the dog rescues that we adopt our dogs from - every dog's previous life, same feelings. So glad they all get a shot at a second life of luxury with good people. My DH always says that he wants to come back again in another life as my dog because I treat him better than I treat my DH!
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Tanya
Every click helps feed .6 bowls of food to rescued animals. Give a quick click every day and help animals in shelters! www.theanimalrescuesite.com
I was wondering about the neck bands, thanks for the information.
I figured I'd better add that in, as the first time we went to the Donkey Sanctuary, we were wondering what the neck bands were about until we found out. It's very clever.
Awww, the consecutive shots of Bonnie walking towards you. So cute!!!
She is a sweetie!
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Lovely story with Laurel and Hardy. Makes me think of the dog rescues that we adopt our dogs from - every dog's previous life, same feelings. So glad they all get a shot at a second life of luxury with good people.
Definitely!
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My DH always says that he wants to come back again in another life as my dog because I treat him better than I treat my DH!
Too bad Ruby wasn't cooperating with the photos and just showing his rear side for you! At least Bonnie was much better. Strange again how people behave here and no regard for anyone else by blocking your view.
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October 6, 2017-Enjoying an amazing dinner at Victoria & Albert's with PP's Dot and Drew
My TR from my most recent trip is now underway. Includes: Universal Studios Florida, Disney World and Sea World Orlando Trifecta TR -Updated December 10th! TR is now COMPLETED!
It's so sad that people mistreat animals. One of my nieces is part of a horse rescue group. Some of her stories are just so sad. Luckily most of the horses recover. The others live their lives at the rescue place.
Both my cats are from an animal rescue place South of here. They take in any animal that the owners can't take care of anymore. At any time you can find anything from horses ,donkeys, cows and pigs to cts and cats. They do great work there.
The pictures of the girls are so cute. thanks for explaining the collars. It's sort of like break away collars for cats.
Liz
My brother's family picked up one year old dog many years ago and their beloved dog just died recently at about 12 years old. I think that was her age. She came from a shelter. She was very timid and scared constantly in the beginning. We were told she was not cared for well earlier and had been abused and neglected rather severely. But she found a good home and those who cared for her well after that.
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October 6, 2017-Enjoying an amazing dinner at Victoria & Albert's with PP's Dot and Drew
My TR from my most recent trip is now underway. Includes: Universal Studios Florida, Disney World and Sea World Orlando Trifecta TR -Updated December 10th! TR is now COMPLETED!
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That's quite an interesting event with the tea event here and not what I'd expect here! 
Very interesting with the vets and glad you got to experience this as perfect for you as you learned and got so much out of it! 
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Pixie Dust
Essentially, it’s when two donkeys groom each other and it is so cute to watch. 
We saw quite a few without neck bands the next day, so I guess they were having some fun today! 
At least Bonnie was much better. Strange again how people behave here and no regard for anyone else by blocking your view. 
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