Pasado: The Heart of a Donkey - Paperback

by Rebecca Pierce Murray (Author), Lori Burkheimer (Illustrator)

Just one year after Pasado the donkey, celebrated his 21st birthday, complete with cake, balloons, and 100 adoring fans in attendance, his life came to an abrupt end. It was the night of April 15th, 1992, that three young men hopped Pasado's 4-foot fence at Kelsey Creek Park, in Bellevue, Washington, carrying a rope tied into a hangman's noose. The following morning a park worker found Pasado dead, with the noose around his neck at the base of his favorite tree.

The horrific act of violence against a beloved donkey, followed by a highly-charged and controversial criminal trial, ignited a firestorm of activism that changed Washington law forever. The activism continues to this day through the efforts of Pasado's Safe Haven Animal Sanctuary located in Sultan, Washington.

Listen as Pasado tells his story with humor, boldness, and grace. Learn from his sanctuary friends as they share their own stories of transformation. Then, explore the big messages of human compassion in action, kindness and silver linings. Deepen your discovery with discussion questions to inspire conversations with youngsters.

This book, in all its pain and joy, is dedicated to those who rose from the ashes of grief and despair to make a difference that is now the legacy of a beloved soul named Pasado.