Perry, a miniature donkey whose handlers stated he was utilized by DreamWorks animators as a mannequin for the chatty “Shrek” character named Donkey, died final week on the age of 30.
Jenny Kiratli, lead handler on the Barron Park Donkey Venture in Palo Alto, Calif., the group that took care of Perry, stated he was euthanized Thursday after ache in his hooves worsened from a situation known as laminitis. One other volunteer handler, Larry Reeves, stated Perry had been struggling to maneuver round, and at one level his legs have been shaking.
Perry, a Jerusalem miniature donkey, was first delivered to California to assist calm polo ponies, however as a substitute he nipped at them, in keeping with the challenge’s web site. So in 1997, the “spunky” 3-year-old was delivered to Palo Alto’s Bol Park to stay in a pasture put aside for donkeys to graze.
In 1999, DreamWorks animators who lived close by got here throughout Perry and used him as a mannequin for the Donkey character of their upcoming animated film, “Shrek,” in keeping with volunteers. Some handlers stated Donkey, though playful like Perry, didn’t have a lot else in widespread with the character voiced by Eddie Murphy.
“Perry simply had an air about him, not a lot just like the character in Shrek,” stated Nanette Singer, who has been volunteering with the group for 4 years. “He was all mild and gentleness and sweetness.”
Shortly after Perry’s arrival, the group caring for the donkeys formalized because the Barron Park Donkey Venture and have become a nonprofit in 2001. It was the identical 12 months “Shrek” was launched and have become a cultural phenomenon, however Perry was recognized regionally extra for his affectionate nuzzles and pleasant angle with youngsters.
Mr. Reeves, who has lived within the space since 1986, has been caring for Perry and the opposite donkeys for about seven years along with his 14-year-old grandson.
“Perry was a really particular donkey,” Mr. Reeves stated, including that typically Perry would attempt to affectionately “take a chunk out of my sweatshirt.”
By the point Ms. Kiratli joined as lead handler in 2016, the Barron Park Donkey Venture had dozens of volunteers.
Across the similar time, a donkey named Jenny joined the pasture with Perry. Ms. Kiratli stated Jenny was “the love of his life” due to how playful the 2 have been round one another.
“It was actually so candy to look at them develop into bonded,” Ms. Kiratli stated.
After Jenny died in 2020, two extra donkeys have been delivered to the group: Buddy and April. The 2 are nonetheless there and gave the impression to be extra “subdued” after dropping Perry, the handlers stated.
Within the remaining years of his life, a bunch of regulation college students from Stanford College, which is down the road from the Bol Park, teamed as much as marketing campaign for Perry, who they stated was by no means credited for his work with the “Shrek” creators.
Frishta Qaderi, 26, one of many college students, stated that when she started volunteering to care for the donkeys in October 2023, she realized of Perry’s previous stardom and his diseases.
“It was very arduous to see only a very weak and sick donkey who has all these medical payments,” Ms. Qaderi stated, including that she was struck by how Perry, struggling silently, had a task within the manufacturing of a movie that touched lives around the globe.
The scholars started writing and sending letters to DreamWorks executives and Mr. Murphy, asking them to acknowledge Perry for his work. (They obtained no response.)
The Barron Park Donkey Venture, which is supported virtually completely by donations and volunteers, raised cash on Perry’s thirtieth birthday to assist cowl medical prices of the park’s three donkeys. A whole lot of residents confirmed up for his get together.
Shortly after, Perry’s story unfold. Ms. Kiratli stated the challenge obtained $27,000 in 5 weeks.
