You might see cats and dogs around the average neighborhood, but in DeFuniak Springs every now and then you come across stray livestock.
About three weeks ago, a stray donkey came to the Walton County Sheriff's Office.
“There was someone that came across him and started taking care of him, but he became too expensive to feed,” explained Henry Alford, director of support services. “The donkey had to go to animal services — that's us.”
See photos of Moses the donkey.
Off a gravel road just about a few hundred feet away from the WSCO administration building in DeFuniak Springs is where the donkey has been staying. In the next stable is a Welsh pony.
Monday, the sheriff's office had planned to find a permanent home for the donkey, named Moses by one of the deputies, by holding a public auction.
However, no one showed up.
“We placed a legal ad for the owner to come claim him,” said Captain Audie Rowell. “Since it doesn't look like we're going to sell the donkey, he'll become an adoptive animal.”
This isn't the first time the sheriff's office has tried to auction livestock.
“In 2010, we sold a couple of goats that had been abandoned,” said Alford.
But to some of the deputies and staff at WCSO, Moses is more than livestock up for auction, or adoption.
Deputy Tammy Henderson, who gave Moses his name, has been sneaking off to the small barn area to pet and feed him.
“He is so sweet and loves peppermints,” she said.
Alford pointed out that Moses shows no signs of malnutrition and appears to have been receiving good care.
“It would be nice if somebody could give him a home,” said Catherine Rodriguez, public information officer for WCSO. “They just need to make sure to have plenty of peppermints.”
Contact Daily News Staff Writer Jennie McKeon at 850-315-4432 or jmckeon@nwfdailynews.com. Follow her on Twitter @JennieMnwfdn.