UPDATE: Lost Miniature Donkeys Have Been Found!

Sonny and Coco get a much deserved hug after the miniature donkeys were found OK in the woods on Tuesday.

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Cancel the helicopter -- Sonny and Coco are back home.

The two miniature donkeys - who went missing in North Reading on Sunday - were found by their owner Denise Cimino in the woods behind Jackson Farm off Haverhill Street on Tuesday.

Cimino, who has a fear of flying, had hired a helicopter to fly her over the area in hopes of finding her lost donkeys that wandered away from her farm.

But an hour before she was set to take off, Cimino found the donkeys in a wooded area that had been searched multiple times since the donkeys disappeared.

Cimino saw Sonny and Coco and the donkeys brayed with joy at seeing their human. There was one problem -- there was a pond between Cimino and the donkeys.

“There was a pond between us so I put a plank down and shimmied across hoping not to fall through and called Wayne Wetherbee of North Reading, who has extensive experience in that area to come and guide us out. He and David Wilson of Flying High Stables also came to assist with our exit,” Cimino said.

Sonny and Coco were OK and are now glad to be back in their stable.

“They are very happy to be home, ran right up to the barn and into their stall, rolling around in their bedding eating and drinking. Their horse brother Danny was happy they were home,” she said.

Patch originally broke the story of the missing minis, and urged anyone who saw the donkeys to approach with caution. Miniature donkeys will bite and kick if threatened.

Patch readers sprung into action, sharing the story on social media and keeping an eye out around town for two extremely cute if sometimes disagreeable jack and jenny.

Cimino is appreciative of the community’s support.

“A special thank you to you and your readers for the excellent coverage!” said Cimino.

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