It took a while, but Ron and Nora began to tolerate, and then actually like each other. Soon, she would come up to him to be petted and rub on his legs. (He finally realized what an honor this was for him, that she did not bestow this show of affection on just anyone!)

She was only 3 1/2 when she passed away. She loved high places and loved to explore and chase anything that moved. My son found her in our driveway under the electric wires with no marks on her. We assumed she went out on the wire after a bird and somehow was electrocuted. I cried for 2 days. Ron knew that he could never replace her with another cat, she was just too unique.

Then Ron got the brilliant idea to go look at miniature donkeys to cheer me up. I had once told him that I had wanted a pet donkey since I was 6 years old. That was the year I bought my first real book: Brighty Of The Grand Canyon, and fell in love with donkeys. I grew up in Queens New York so I never imagined I would ever move to Tennessee and actually be able to own a donkey.

So, we went to Grace Acres in Riceville to get 2 pets and 2 years later, here we are with 18 donkeys and counting!!

That's our story and every day that I am outside with my donkeys I think of Nora Neko

Patti Baker