Donkey found roaming streets of Georgia county was wearing a ‘mask,’ deputies say

A donkey — wearing a “mask” — was captured on the streets of Dawson County, Georgia, over the weekend.

The Dawson County Sheriff’s Office posted news of the incident Nov. 14 on Facebook, adding: “It’s not every day you get a call for a donkey walking in the road with a mask on.” The county is northeast of Atlanta.

A photo shared by the department shows the donkey was cooperative when taken into custody.

Department officials were alerted to the free-roaming animal when someone reported “there is a donkey walking in the roadway (and it) has some kind of mask on.” A street location was not provided, but it was near a water tower, the person said.

Lisa Silvestri-Casey says she is the owner of the 7-year-old donkey, and its name is Buford. He likely escaped through some boards in the fence, which have since been repaired, she says.

As for the face mask, he wasn’t wearing one when he left the property, she says. It’s possible 911 callers mistook Buford’s halter for some kind of face mask, she says.

Hundreds of people have reacted to the Facebook post, including some who cheered the donkey for doing his part to prevent the spread of COVID.

One TV station also suggested the “donkey’s social distancing efforts (were) thwarted” by deputies.

“It’s not the first jackass wearing a mask in Georgia,” one person wrote on Facebook.

“Shouldn’t he have a lawyer present,” another said.

Family pets and even zoo animals have tested positive for COVID-19, the FDA says, but animals wearing protective face masks remains uncommon during the ongoing pandemic.

This story was originally published November 15, 2021 at 10:46 AM with the headline "Donkey found roaming streets of Georgia county was wearing a ‘mask,’ deputies say."