Meet the family's smart ass

IT'S not unusual to see a much-loved dog or cat curled up beside the fire in a family's living room – but a fully grown donkey is another matter.

Six-year-old Holly has become such a fixture in the Ferrier household that she can be found sprawled on the carpet, loitering in the kitchen and even watching TV – especially if there's a screening of Shrek.

Holly and her one-year-old colt Charlie are the guests of animal lovers Tim and Jackie Ferrier, who moved from Winchester to a smallholding in Bude, Cornwall, three years ago. And such is their passion for pets that they like to keep an open-door policy to all the animals.

Holly was saved from a life as an Irish street pony two years ago and she was originally allowed into the house to keep Jackie company while Tim worked away.

Set in five acres of pasture and orchards, their country bungalow is home to four dogs, three cats, two sheep, a foal, four ducks, eight hens, a cockerel, and of course two donkeys.

Jackie, who is a keen horse rider, said: "We've been here nearly three years and have always been animal lovers and wanted to own a donkey.

"Donkeys are very companionable and love just being with people.

"We have to make sure things are kept out of the way – especially the fruit bowl. Obviously we do not feed them anything hot but if we have a cold lunch it always has to be shared – everyone gets some.

"We have even set a place for them at the table because if we want to have lunch in peace we give them a plate so that they can just eat from there rather than us having to feed it to them.

"Holly and Charlie have a fetish for French toast – so much so that they get a box of it every year as a Christmas present.

"They just love being involved, but are probably in a bit confused over what species they are."

The Ferriers – who run the Canine Country Club in Youlston, North Cornwall – let all their pets wander around their kitchen and front room.

Jackie says that her two children – James, 12, and nine-year-old Lucy – don't mind it because they have grown up with it and are used to it.

"It is very amusing because friends come over and there are chickens wandering around. It is definitely different. Life would be boring if we were the same as everyone else."

Mrs Ferrier added that if they shut the door Holly bangs on it until she is let in because she hates to be left out of things.

Holly has some scars on her back because she was ill-treated when she worked as an Irish street donkey. Jackie said: "When she was two years old we got her from a lady from Wales who used her purely to breed from and she was pregnant with Charlie at the time.

"We found her on the Internet and bought her over the phone.

"When we brought her home she was very timid, bedraggled and confused, but donkeys are very forgiving creatures, with no malice."