I just spent WAY too much time looking up photos of miniature donkeys, and now I totally want one. Secretly, I’ve always wanted a goat, but goats are supposed to be bad “pets” who eat everything and then some. Maybe a miniature donkey would be better? Reese Witherspoon has two miniature donkeys, which she keeps on her Ojai, California ranch, along with her assorted farm animals. I’ve heard her mention chickens and… I think she has a cow, a horse and some goats too. Anyway, Reese’s neighbors are really pissed off about the noise coming out of her farm. The donkeys are causing a jackassy ruckus!
Don’t be an ass! Reese Witherspoon’s Ojai, Calif. neighbors are not happy about the noise level of her donkeys, Honky and Tonky. They hee-haw at such a high-volume that “they’re driving us crazy!” a source told Us Weekly.
“It’s so bad that a few residents have sent her a letter,” a local added. But the 35-year-old actress’ neighbors don’t want her to leave, just quiet down her donkeys! “She’s beloved here,” a neighbor said. “I’m not even sure she know what’s going on.”
In an appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show in December, Witherspoon opened up about her farm full of animals. “This year we got donkeys. They’re really cute,” she gushed. “They’re actually miniature donkeys… They’re docile and sweet.”
“I [also] have two pigs, and I have three goats and I have 20 chickens and of course I have three dogs. And I have one horse. It’s hanging out with the donkey, it’s sweet,” she added.
Witherspoon makes sure her son Deacon, 7, and daughter Ava, 11, learn some responsibility through taking care of the family pets. “It’s so good for the kids to learn about animals and kindness and compassion,” she said. “I make them clean the stalls.”
[From Us Weekly]
Ah, that’s why I shouldn’t get a donkey. They’ll be too loud. Right now my biggest problem is my giant dog who thinks he’s a wolf every time a firetruck with sirens goes by. Or the UPS truck, his mortal enemy, which causes my dog to freak out like he’s being attacked on all fronts.
So, what’s the answer for too-loud donkeys? I suspect she may have to sell them or give them away. Or just yell “SHHHHHH!” every time they “Hee-haw.”
Note: these are not photos of Reese’s donkeys, they’re just donkeys that I thought were cute.
Photos courtesy of WENN.
“The donkeys are causing a jackassy ruckus!”
Hilarious – I can say that about a lot of folks I know.
Oh please. I’m surrounded by chronologically-challenged roosters (they don’t know when “dawn” is, basically) but you don’t hear me whining.
When you live in Ojai, near a FARM for crying out loud, you kind of expect some farm noises, don’t you? That would be like living in Modesto and complaining about the manure smell – DUH.
I’d much rather HEAR farm animals than SMELL them. And I much prefer farm noises to city noises.
Lol kaiser. how can her neighbors even hear them? they must be really really loud, or she has a really small farm. the rule of thumb is one acre per head of livestock. So if she has a few big animals, shouldn’t the land be enough so that her neighbors don’t hear them? unless they spend all day that close to the outer fences.
MTV Remix….
I know it’s cool to be a bad neighbor, I get it… but it’s also possible to make it in your community without annoying your neighbors. When I was coming up in this ‘hood your animals made noises and you were embarrassed and hid your head in shame…. It is possible to be a good neighbor. I’m going to try to make it cool.
I like sheeps and cows. I love them. If I had a farm I would have a little fam of each.
Unless there is some public legal documentation of I am gonna say Us weekly is just starting BS.
Awwww….so cute! My dogs also go ballistic when they hear the UPS truck!
Ok, I live in LA and next door to my house is a dog that barks all day when its owner is gone. I’m not working right now so I hear her all day, until someone comes over and sees to her. The owner is out of town right now and a friend comes by to feed and keep her company. The rest of the time she barks until she falls asleep (I guess). My point is I would not ever think to complain, because it’s a little dog, it’s lonely and needs company and I don’t want its owner to think it has to get rid of it on my account. That’s just me, I’m an extreme animal lover, so who is this moron or morons who live in the country and mind that a little donkey makes noise! Geez people, get over yourselves.
@TurtleDove: LOL!
It’s a FARM with live animals and contrary to people who hate jackassy ruckuses (ruckii?), animals make noise.
Kaiser my heart melted at the sight of the little brown fuzzy donkey. Thank you I really needed to smile today
Of course – animals on a farm are suppose to stay quiet and not make loud noises(sacarsam)????
You really want to do yourself a favor? On not, as it will quickly become an obsession, and you’ll want one madly, especially after you read all about how they’re the rage for smart and trainable house pets in Asia…??? Go look up “Teacup Pig”
I’m currently trying to find one for my farm in VA!
Those donkeys are so cute! My big shephard/husky mix is terrified of diesel engines. The school bus and the garbage truck make her run and hide!
Sage, I’ve been BEGGING the hubs for a teacup pig…but to no avail.
Anyways, like other posters stated- It’s a FARMING area for goodness sake. What do the neighbors expect?
@ The Original Bellaluna – Do you live near Modesto? I used to live in Manteca years ago, and at the time they were building all these new homes right next to or across the street from dairy farms. The people who moved there complained about all the noise, smell and flies. I can’t figure out how you can buy a house right across the street from a dairy farm and not notice all the cows…
Ranch = animals = noise. I’m sure her neighbors are fine and it’s just a made up story. It’s not like she has a whole herd of wild donkeys running around.
There is one donkey, somewhere within 200 yards of me.
Randomly, it will let out only a single heehaw at like 1 in the morning. Of course I can hear it– its far away but clearly audible.
I dont mind! LOL
And yes my BF knows I would instantly swipe up a teacup pig if I ever saw one; plus we would like maybe a goat for milk and cheese. Or at least to live near enough to someone who has them or cows, and make a deal to get some fresh milk or other products 😀
@ Lucky Charm – No, I don’t, for exactly that reason. I don’t like the smell. There’s a “master planned community” in San Marcos, CA that was built on the old dump: wonder if people there complain about the smell? Seems like common sense isn’t so common anymore, doesn’t it? 🙂
@boo – You should make friends with your neighbor. Then you could be the one spending time with the dog.
OMG.. I knew I’d get myself off on a wild.. pig chase! I’d be in so much trouble if they knew I have been searching teacup pigs rather than congressional legislation here at the office…;o) LOOK WHAT I FOUND. This little piggy is for sale just 2.5 hours away from my house. Now I won’t be able to think of anything else all weekend… THANKS KAISER! ;o)
http://pics.hoobly.com/full/WA3CUU8BMZ2N.jpg
“There’s a “master planned community” in San Marcos, CA that was built on the old dump: wonder if people there complain about the smell? Seems like common sense isn’t so common anymore, doesn’t it?”
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Oh holy cow. There is a development here (TX) that was built.. next to the current city dump! (homes average size 2800 sq. ft) So this is a pretty planned community.
But when the builder was selling the new homes, they made sure to do it during the Winter months.
As soon as Summer rolled around. The entire place smells like sh*t! Real live sh*t! hahahaha!
When anyone/buyers ask about the huge beautiful grass cover hill behind these homes… the dump was referred to as a environmental something-another.
Never once did they use the term City Dump. That is currently in use for 3 cities.
So every Summer the home owners are on TV harping on and on about the smell of sh*t. hahaha! People! Do your research. If you are going to buy a fancy new home. You better research the area.
Ohhhh… and who harps about two tiny donkey’s? And a few hee-haws?
If you are going to live out in the country. You better be prepare for country life. And that includes the smells and sounds of a farm.
Lol at all the oddly zoned areas in SoCal…I lived in a Stepford-esque planned community in Calabasas just down from Topanga, and even with that we were one barbed-wire fence away from a field of cattle…and downwind from the city dump!
(Compared to where we lived before in Topanga Canyon proper, the only area in LA where having a Hummer or a 4×4 isn’t vanity, it’s the only way to get up your driveway!)
@ Hautie – Yeah, this dump was the like the only one in North County (SD county), and they went round and round about how it was “too full” and land was “too valuable” ad nauseum. Finally got it shut down, only to “treat” it (however one manages THAT) and BOOM! build the “enclave” currently known as San Elijo Hills. Can you imagine?
Oh yes, I bet they tried to sell only in the winter months. When it’s warm in San Marcos (which is frequent), the smell is a combo of raw sewage, garbage, and poo.
LOVE THE TEACUP PIGGIES!!! ZOMG.
@sage that piggy is soooooo cute 😀
She is so fucking ugly 🙁
My in-laws have a farm & I’ve been trying to convince them to get a mini-donkey “for my 18-month old”. lol. Now I may have to try to get them get a teacup pig too. Adorable.
@hautie: that development you’re talking about wouldn’t be in Denton TX near HW 380 would it? with the landfill being the one on Mayhill rd? can’t think of the name of it but all the streets are named rodeo and stallion and stupid horse related crap like that. Could there be 2 of these??
So cute! boo on the uptight neighbors
We have miniature donkeys…..pure white with blue eyes. They are so cute, and although they sometimes bray, they are not at all as noisy as barking dogs. They are also incredibly courageous, and are sometimes pastured with goats or miniature horses as protection. They will kick a predator such as a coyote to death, but are gentle with humans.
Um, I thought her farm was somewhere rural, or at least semi-rural. Shouldn’t people be used to farm sounds and smells? I mean, she can’t have a farm in the suburbs, can she?
If I had the space, I’d get a llamas. And call them Carl and Paul.
@ Emily: My son played baseball with a boy who had llamas. The girl was named Dolly, lol. And she was very sweet and gentle.
“@hautie: that development you’re talking about wouldn’t be in Denton TX near HW 380 would it? with the landfill being the one on Mayhill rd?”
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Ohhhhhh so close. But not the one in Denton.
There is one in Lewisville. (Also in Denton County though…)
Right next to the Lewisville City Dump.
It sits on Round Grove Road east of the Mall in Lewisville. (Between I-35 and the Toll Road) It has a Lewisville address. But it runs up to Carrollton city limits.
And it stinks out there. 🙂
Miniature animals are so squee! 😀
Awww makes me wish I were still small and cute. Ms Witherspoon might adopt me. LOL
Hey, chalk up another dog that cannot stand the UPS truck, he hears it coming from 3 blocks away and turns into the a devil dog. An 8lb devil dog.
@ Annie – How much land does a mini-donk require, do you know? Because I am totally in love with them after seeing the pix of them. We don’t have a whole lot of land, but we do have a massively rambunctious, all-boy toddler who would more-than-likely kill any puppy we try to raise to adulthood. (Not being mean, just being honest. Why do you think we haven’t adopted a dog yet?)
Or I need a BIG dog that is as good with kids as he/she is sturdy.
I live in town but near farmland. There is a donkey we hear regularly. It’s annoying but I would never imagine asking the owner to keep it quiet. That would be like complaining about the own in my neighbor’s trees. It’s ridiculous. It’s an animal. They make noise. It’s not like a dog that you can train. Sheesh! I’m glad I don’t live in CA.
I live right in the city and someone near me had a rooster I’d hear occasionally, but it wasn’t that annoying. Noisy drunk neighbours piss me off more. I’d rather live next door to a barking dog than a bunch of drunks!
@the original belleluna, the answer about land for a miniature donkey is a little complicated. If the donkey will have to rely on grazing, in many parts of the country they would need about an acre per animal. However, a stable and paddock can be put on a much smaller space, as long as they are fed and exercised daily. For a true pet, my sons love their dogs. There are many large, wonderful shelter dogs in need of a home, who would be great with your son.
I think they have Witherspoon’s husband mixed up with the donkey’s!!!! HEE HAW!!!
@turtle dove…..LMAO!!!!
@US Rag Mag…..LOL