New friends found for 'heartbroken' donkey

A "lonely" donkey has found new companionship this Valentine's Day after the death of his goat best friend, his owner has said.

Dot Smith, from Bitteswell in Leicestershire, told the BBC Harold had been left bereft after his pal Billy died.

In February 2024 she put out an appeal to find Harold some new friends and cheer him up - and now he has three new goat pals to keep him company.

"It was 100% a success," she said.

Mrs Smith and her husband Carl had noticed Harold was not his usual self after Billy was euthanised at Christmas 2023 due to old age.

"Harold is a bit lonely now. If we could find a mate for him, it would be really appreciated," she said at the time.

Luckily for Harold, it did not take long for their appeal to get results.

"Within a few weeks we ended up with two pygmy goats and Sally the goat," Mrs Smith said.

"Straight away they [became] friends. But animals are like that, they sense it straight away."

She added the new friends had received two extra bales of hay as a Valentine's Day treat.

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