Donkey Series

Glad you asked — because donkeys are genuinely fascinating and wildly underrated.
They have incredible memories. Donkeys can remember places, people, and experiences for decades. If you've met a donkey before, there's a good chance it remembers you too.
They're not actually stubborn — they're cautious. What looks like stubbornness is actually a strong self-preservation instinct. Donkeys won't do something they believe is dangerous. They're not being difficult. They're being smart.
They're herd animals who grieve. Donkeys form deep bonds with their companions and can go into genuine mourning when they lose a herd mate. They feel things.
A donkey's bray can be heard up to 60 miles away. Which explains a lot if you've ever been near one at feeding time.
They originated in Africa. Donkeys were domesticated from African wild asses around 5,000 years ago and have been working alongside humans ever since — one of the most important animals in human history, and still somehow not getting the credit they deserve.

It's donkeys — no "ie" required. English borrowed the word relatively recently (it showed up in the late 1700s) and it follows the standard pluralization rule for words ending in a consonant + y... except the y stays and you just add an s. Donkeys. Always donkeys. The donkeys of Katie's farm would like you to spell their name correctly.

For the right person with the right setup, donkeys are wonderful. They're affectionate, loyal, and develop strong bonds with their humans over time. They're also lower maintenance than horses and can live 25 to 40 years — so this is very much a long-term relationship.
The catch: they need companionship (ideally another donkey or a compatible animal), proper shelter, pasture space, and regular hoof care and vet visits. They're not a backyard impulse buy, but for those who go in prepared, donkeys are one of the most rewarding animals you can keep. Just ask Katie.

Very — and they're consistently underestimated because of the whole "stubborn" reputation. Donkeys are actually independent problem-solvers with strong situational awareness. They assess risk before acting, which is a sign of higher-order thinking, not laziness.
They also have excellent long-term memory, can learn routines quickly, and are emotionally intelligent enough to sense when something is off. Studies in animal cognition continue to find that donkeys are significantly smarter than the old stereotypes give them credit for. Spend five minutes with one and you'll believe it.