340
JUAN FRANCISCO BLANCO
fence fifty meters away. I was on the way to see a good shaman
in a small village. Five hours later, when I passed by that same
spot, there was that same small burro still standing perfectly still.
I thought that was very unusual, so unusual that I stopped, got
off my horse and went to check on the burro. As I approached, I
expected that he would move away. But, he didn’t move a
muscle. Once I got close, I could see why. He had been hobbled,
there was a fifteen-millimeter nylon rope tied around his two
front legs. He could only move about thirty-five centimeters for
one step. What was horrid to me was the fact the burro had all
the skin rubbed completely off in circles around each leg. All I
could do was cut the nylon rope and free the burro from his
torment. He had gone a long time without water, and not been
able to eat what he needed. The owner was nowhere in sight.
What is even stranger, I left that little burro in that pasture in the
mountains that hot day. I lived over thirty-five kilometers from
where I saw that burro. Two days later, when I got up in the
morning, I went out to feed Centella, and there beside her was
this burro in her pasture. The gate was locked, and I had the only
key. How could that be possible, I have asked myself?”
“That is simply terrible. I can’t believe anyone would treat an
animal that bad. These Americans, I can’t believe them.”
“Bardala, the problem with that burro happened in Mexico,
not the United States. This is a problem worldwide, not just in
America, or in our country, Mexico. People need to think about
how to protect our animals. We are God’s stewards over the
animal kingdom.”
“Tell me, what ever happened to that poor burro that was
abused?”