18 mini donkeys that will make you wanna sell your house and move to the country

If you haven’t heard of miniature donkeys by now, we need to have a little talk.

Basically they’re the perfect pet, and you should pack up all your belongings, buy a house in the country and adopt a miniature donkey… or five. OK, OK, I’m kind of kidding. While they are super-adorable, they do require a little additional work and space. Here’s everything you need to know before you add a mini donkey to your household.

Popular pets
Miniature Mediterranean donkeys have mostly disappeared from their native Sicily but are popular as pets in the United States, and for good reason.
So small
Mini donkeys are seriously small, never larger than 36 inches tall, and sometimes as small as 26 inches.
Perfect pet size
That makes them about the size of a large dog. That’s manageable, right?
They love affection
Mini donkeys really love their owners, and they like to give affection.
They always say ‘hi’
They like to greet their owners with snuffles and snorts — a totally adorbs way to say hello, if you ask me.
They’re demanding
They like attention, and they’ll follow you around and give gentle nudges if you aren’t giving them enough.
Super-gentle
They’re great animals to have around small children because they’re super-calm and rarely bite or kick.
Sometimes silly
Mini donkeys are playful and silly and are known for developing lifelong bonds with their people.
We all need friends
Miniature donkeys do best with a friend, so it’s always better to get at least two.
They even make unlikely friends
They’ll hang around with goats, sheep and other barn aminals, but those don’t count as companions. They still need another donkey around.
They need room to roam
They don’t need a ton of space, but two mini donkeys should have at least an acre of land.
Mini donkeys need a mini house
And they should have someplace to sleep at night and hide from bad weather.
Mama love
Foals can take up to a year to wean from their moms.
Take your pick
They come in several colors and a dazzling array of patterns — all even cuter than the last.
Strong companions
They’re easily trained and can carry up to 100 pounds on their backs, making them the perfect riding companions for small children.
Donkey care
Like other animals, they’ll still need vaccinations and vet checks, and they need hoof care like horses do.
Friend for life
The average life span of a mini donkey is 25 to 35 years. It’s a big commitment, but all that love and cuteness are totally worth it.