13 Responses to “Driver Strikes, Kills Donkey On Highway 29”

1. Panhandle Equine Rescue on April 23rd, 2015 8:57 am

   “A few horses got loose in a friends neighborhood, I suggested she call them. She was told that it was not their concern or their problem. Call the ECSO”.

   Just to clarify PER is very concerned when equine are running loose and extremely saddened when they are hit by a vehicle, not only for the animal, but for the people involved. Livestock roaming are indeed a public safety issue. If a neighbor can corral the animals, that would be best, but if they cannot, then proper protocol for Escambia County residents would be to call the sheriffs office at 850-436-9620. They will dispatch an officer out, who access the situation and call their contracted livestock officer out to capture if necessary. The sheriffs office makes every attempt to locate the owner before impounding, but if they can’t, the animal is transported to the county livestock impound facility. If the owner still doesn’t surface after a number of days, FL. Statute allows the sheriff to hold an auction. They have in the past held the auction at the Molino Sheriffs Dept. substation prior to taking them to a bigger auction. PER assists in getting the word out and trying to get the animals placed in a good home. This is very time consuming on our part, but we strive to keep them from going to a bigger auction where they could possibly end up in the slaughter pipeline. So, yes, we are very concerned about equine roaming and are happy to report that we have helped many be placed in a good home.

2. No Excuses on April 22nd, 2015 5:09 pm

   The bottom line is that sometimes, in spite of our best efforts, animals do escape. I have horses and one of them likes to take adventures. We have since replaced our pasture fence – an expensive undertaking, and he has stayed safely confined. The one time he did get out, he ran across Highway 29 and my very kind neighbor put him in his pasture with his horse until we could come and get him. I was and remain most grateful for that and would certainly do the same for anyone else’s animals that were out. In fact, I carry a spare halter in my van for just such an occasion. We live in farm country – it happens. We need to help each other out whenever we can.

3. Dee on April 22nd, 2015 2:38 pm

   “Panhandle Equine could have been called to help find the owner or help by taking them to holding pen”

   A few horses got loose in a friends neighborhood, I suggested she call them. She was told that it was not their concern or their problem. Call the ECSO.

4. molino horse mom on April 22nd, 2015 10:58 am

   Animals can and will get out no matter how hard you try to keep control of it. I would hope that if that happened to my horses and someone found them they would put them in a fenced in yard or tie them up to protect the animal and others. I have and will do this. I have put Dogs in my garage and horses in a spare pasture and put signs up letting people know. All the owners have been so grateful to get their animals back alive and well and all have gotten loose by different circumstances. Panhandle Equine could have been called to help find the owner or help by taking them to holding pen. There is no excuse why you would see them out and not call someone and especially act like you are going to help and dont. NO Excuses you tried and thought they were taken care so sad they weren’t

5. wendell on April 22nd, 2015 10:09 am

   @Valerie Davis If your two were in Atmore, how were (gelding and donkey) they attracted to the field? That doesn’t really make a lot of sense. Also, this is the internet, people are free to say what they want, please don’t expect it to change, you’ll be waiting a while. It seems you’d be more upset at the owner for letting them get loose and you having to deal with it then the nice people who rounded them up.

6. Kathy B on April 22nd, 2015 6:25 am

   Everyone beware. There are one donkey still on the loose. I seen two running together in that area. Someone just let them go.or they broke out, the sad thin . About the owner want come forward

7. me on April 22nd, 2015 2:03 am

   At least that headlight still works on the car. =)

8. No Excuses on April 21st, 2015 5:42 pm

   @ Valerie,

   I’m glad they weren’t yours. It was nice of you to keep them for the owner.

9. Valerie Davis on April 21st, 2015 5:07 pm

   Dear No Excuses. Yes, the donkey and the horse came to my field but they were not my animals. My two were in Atmore being trained and I’m sure that since they are female and in heat, most of the time, the gelding probably was drawn this way. They actually live on 29 diagonal to my property. Please don’t assume anything when commenting on sites.

10. No Excuses on April 21st, 2015 3:39 pm

    My husband and I “encouraged” a loose horse and donkey on HWY 29 back into the neighborhood they came out of. They went into a yard and up to a gate. A woman came out of the house and put them in the small pasture there. She said they weren’t hers, but they sure went right to the gate! At any rate, we got them off the highway. I wonder if it was the same donkey? It’s very close to the same area.

11. Trish on April 21st, 2015 10:59 am

    “Keep better tabs on their livestock”. Animals get out from time to time, we are in a rural area and drivers should always drive with care and remember that. Unfortunately if an animal wants out then they will find a way, even if it is jumping a fence. It is wonderful that the driver was not harmed and sad that the donkey was lost. Anything can be in the road, dogs – cats – deer – coyotes – hogs – horses – cattle and everything in between.

12. Vic Himler on April 21st, 2015 9:41 am

    If you hit a donkey your gonna have a Shriek .

13. Bob's Brother on April 21st, 2015 9:30 am

    This is really sad. A totaled vehicle, a dead donkey… people should keep better tabs on their livestock.