For the love of donkeys

It’s hard to miss Judy Johnson and her miniature donkey, Molly, parading around, whether in the Heritage Days parade or the Night of Lights.

“That’s what I love, is sharing her with people,” Johnson, of Martin City, said last week.

Johnson decided to start raising donkeys after a chance newspaper ad piqued her interest.

“I saw an ad in the paper, back in 2008, for a free donkey. It was already gone though, so I started looking for another to buy,” Johnson said. “They always intrigued me. I’ve always thought donkeys were so wonderful.”

She knew she would need to get two, since donkeys are a herd animal.

Molly, who pulls Johnson’s cart, was her first. Molly was six months old when Johnson bought her.

To complete the pair, Johnson had a male donkey, Mr. Chips, who was killed by a mountain lion only four months after Johnson brought him home.

Over the years, Molly has seen a few other partners. Rosie appeared with Molly in a parade in Kalispell — the last time Rosie ever agreed to pull the cart.

“That was the last time she ever did it,” Johnson said. “The road was wet and she would not go through the water.”

So Johnson decided to trade her for another donkey, Mindy.

Mindy appeared with Molly in a couple of Night of Lights parades, but she, too, quit pulling the cart. Johnson gave Mindy away to a friend, and Johnson said that she lives a very happy life.

“Molly is the only cooperative one,” Johnson said. “I think a real key is having them from when they’re a baby.”

Molly was very young when she was trained to drive.

Molly has appeared for the last two years in the Night of Lights parade as well as several Heritage Days parades, pulling the cart by herself.

“She’s so hot to trot, she gets antsy going that slow,” Johnson said.

That’s why you’ll see Johnson and Molly zig-zagging down the street: it gives Molly a little more room to stretch her legs, Johnson noted.

Four years ago, Johnson brought a new, full-sized donkey, Maisie, into the family.

“I think her size alone is a little more of a deterrent for a mountain lion,” Johnson said. “That’s why I got a full-size girl. Donkeys have been known to fight off cats. I don’t know if she really would, but just her size might keep them away.”

Another donkey joined the family two years ago when Johnson brought in a stud miniature donkey to breed with Molly. It didn’t take with Molly, but Maisie ended up pregnant.

The baby, Maggie, is a mama’s girl, both to Maisie and to Johnson.

“They’re like a therapy,” Johnson said. “I love spending time with them. It’s very calming because they’re such gentle creatures.”

Johnson said friends have helped her along the way with her four-legged friends.

“I couldn’t have done any of this without Rick Lance,” she said. “He brings hay, he trims their hooves, and he taught me to harness and drive them.”

At the end of the day, it’s not the cart or the driving that is the highlight, it’s just the love of a pet.

“They’re my pets. They love me and I love them,” Johnson said. “They know it’s all good and whatever we do is going to be fun.”