Donkeys thrive after being abandoned in Melbourne

For years, the two forlorn donkeys were part of the landscape neighboring Renninger's Flea Market in Melbourne. They patiently stood there during the searing summer heat and when thunderstorms soaked them to the bone, as well as when chilly winter days added a touch of frost to the land and shriveled the little grass that sustained them.

They were shot at by teenagers and chased by dogs, but they managed to survive, even though their hooves became deformed due to lack of care and their coats turned mangy from rain rot.

Their owner, who lived out of state, had left them to fend for themselves in the property, and for years the animals scrounged a living from the scrub and the scraps that flea market visitors tossed at them.

John Hilaman and his wife, Ann, who ran a booth at the market, took pity on the creatures and began feeding them daily. The donkeys repaid Hilaman's kindness when Ann died five years ago.

"The donkeys meant everything to me," said Hilaman, of Indian Harbour Beach.

"After losing my wife, caring for the donkeys kept me going."

On his last birthday, Hilaman planned to celebrate by bringing a bushel of carrots for the donkeys, only to find the animals were nowhere to be seen.

The land's property manager had asked an acquaintance and good Samaritan to remove them because they were deemed a liability and would otherwise have to be put down. The kindhearted girl moved them to a property she leases for her cattle, but the property owner there also said the donkeys couldn't stay.

Deborah Ross, who runs Midgets Mini Horse and Pony Rescue in Malabar, came to the donkeys' aid, agreeing to foster them until a permanent home could be found.

"They were scared to death and so skittish it took about five hours to get them into the trailer, but not once did they ever try to bite or kick me," Ross said.

Ross contacted Donna Sobredo and her husband, ER physician Dr. Sergio Sobredo, thinking the animals would fit right in at the Sobredo's peaceable kingdom known as Honky Donkey Ranch in Grant. Six rescued dogs, eight rescued pigs (including 800-pound love muffin Charlie), a flock of chickens, two cats, five cows, a donkey and a horse already called the place home. How about two more donkeys, asked Ross of Sobredo?

"We can't turn any sad animal away," Donna Sobredo said.

"They have become part of our family."

Hilaman, in the meantime, kept trying to discover the donkeys' whereabouts, with little success.

"I thought they had been euthanized and was really upset about it," Hilaman said.

He even called upon higher power for help with the donkeys, praying during Easter service to find them. After all, it was a humble donkey Christ chose as his mode of transportation.

His prayers were answered when Hilaman got a tip that the donkeys might be living in Grant, and from then on he was a man on a mission.

Hilaman didn't know about the Sobredos, but only that the donkeys were in the area, so he spent hours scouring Grant roads hoping for a glimpse of Paco and Brownie.

"I would drive up and down the roads going at 10 miles an hour looking for the donkeys," Hilaman said.

On his way to the airport one day, Dr. Sergio Sobredo picked up a call that at first seemed odd.

"The man at the other end sounded kind of desperate," Donna Sobredo said.

"He managed to explain that he was looking for two donkeys and had been looking for them for five months."

Hilaman was checking on a tip about the donkeys' whereabouts.

"He started crying when we told him we had the donkeys and that he was welcome to come see them," Sobredo said.

"Within an hour, he was here. When he got out of his car, the donkeys went crazy whining and braying for him. I just stood and watched and cried. All three were so overcome with relief and joy. What a beautiful moment to be a part of."

Hilaman is now a frequent visitor to Honkey Donkey Ranch to the delight of Matilda and Hazel, as the donkeys are known in their new home.

The flea market donkeys, who once existed on funnel cake scraps and potato chips, now eat extremely well twice a day. In fact, they're in a donkey heaven that includes a barn decorated with hanging plants and flower boxes and shared with rescued mini-donkey Louie and ex-race horse, Arla, who has her own story of animal abuse to tell. The Sobredos have even installed donkey-sized scratching posts for when the itchies arrive.

Fellsmere farrier Heather Strumolo, who is a bit of a horse whisperer, helped the donkeys out of discomfort with nice "hooficures" that got their feet back in shape. She gives them a donkey massage whenever she visits.

Of course, the best treat happens whenever Hilaman arrives.

"John showed such deep compassion for these two animals," Sobredo said.

"He searched and searched until he found them. He is a really special person and we are glad to care for his donkeys for him. As bad as the donkeys had it at one time, they now have a house, they have food and they have a family."