Donkey does security detail on farm

SOUTH KINGSTOWN – No one messes with Bonnie.

The newest employee at the University of Rhode Island’s Peckham Farm is a fuzzy brown donkey, and she appears to be taking her livestock-guarding responsibilities seriously. “She’s the boss,” said URI senior Josean Velez (22), a biology and animal science major.”She’s really protective.If you’re going after the sheep, she’s going after you.”Six-year-old Bonnie, who’s pregnant and due in July, was brought in to keep watch over the animals, especially the sheep, at the university-owned and operated farm, after a gruesome incident with some domestic dogs.A student came in one morning to find blood around the barn and all the sheep injured with puncture wounds.One died and a second had to be euthanised.After the attack, farm manager Dave Marshall, and URI lecturer Katherine Petersson, who teaches animal and veterinary science courses, brainstormed ideas to beef up security at Peckham’s.The two decided to invest in a guardian animal and found Bonnie at a farm in Pittsburgh.Bonnie was trained to work with sheep and the farm specialists decided she would be a perfect match for their Rhode Island farm.Marshall said that although not every donkey can work as a guardian, Bonnie was compatible with the farm and has done a “great job” in providing a second line of defence for the 22 adult sheep and 27 lambs, along with the rest of the livestock.”She can kick with all four feet,” he said.- Nampa-AP”She’s the boss,” said URI senior Josean Velez (22), a biology and animal science major.”She’s really protective.If you’re going after the sheep, she’s going after you.”Six-year-old Bonnie, who’s pregnant and due in July, was brought in to keep watch over the animals, especially the sheep, at the university-owned and operated farm, after a gruesome incident with some domestic dogs.A student came in one morning to find blood around the barn and all the sheep injured with puncture wounds.One died and a second had to be euthanised.After the attack, farm manager Dave Marshall, and URI lecturer Katherine Petersson, who teaches animal and veterinary science courses, brainstormed ideas to beef up security at Peckham’s.The two decided to invest in a guardian animal and found Bonnie at a farm in Pittsburgh.Bonnie was trained to work with sheep and the farm specialists decided she would be a perfect match for their Rhode Island farm.Marshall said that although not every donkey can work as a guardian, Bonnie was compatible with the farm and has done a “great job” in providing a second line of defence for the 22 adult sheep and 27 lambs, along with the rest of the livestock.”She can kick with all four feet,” he said.- Nampa-AP