Meet Tip Toe: The Seeing Eye/Therapy Donkey in Minnesota
I love the thought of a seeing eye dog and how much they can help people who need it. They can also be support/therapy animals if someone needs a companion as well. Great mental health animals.
But what about a therapy/ seeing eye... DONKEY???
Yes, there is a seeing eye/therapy donkey who's name is Tip Toe. Tiptoe has been used in several hospitals and senior living facilities and also as a seeing eye donkey for a blind horse in the twin cities.
Little Tiptoe didn't have a great start to his life. According to a story from People Magazine, Tiptoe was stomped as a baby donkey. He had all four of his little feet, and his neck stomped. He was rescued and bottle fed by veterinary ICU at the University of Minnesota. Because of this, little Tiptoe thinks he is a person.
Now, Tiptoe acts as a seeing eye donkey for a blind horse, and also as a therapy animal in senior living facilities and for memory care residents. Tiptoe's owner, Erin Larson says that it is amazing how Tiptoe helps people by just snuggling in with them and making each person feel more secure and just happier.
Larson says that whether the person wants the donkey around or not at first, Tiptoe will just come right up to a person and snuggle in. The person then finds that they love having Tiptoe around and it really makes their day.
Tiptoe is only 2 years old, so hopefully he will be around for several more years helping people... and horses.
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