NEED TO KNOW
- A video of a 7-month-old donkey named Andrea greeting her rescuer went viral on TikTok
- The clip says Andrea was saved from a slaughterhouse and now lives on a farm in Italy
- Viewers praised the rescue and also urged that donkeys should have companionship and not live alone
A 7-month-old donkey named Andrea is melting hearts online after a rescue story — and her daily reaction to seeing her new owner — went viral on TikTok.
In a video that’s now got more than 640,000 likes on TikTok, the young donkey is introduced as a former slaughterhouse animal who now starts each morning with pure excitement.
“Meet Andrea,” the video reads. “She is 7 months old, and I saved her from a slaughterhouse. She thanks me like this every morning.”
In the clip, Andrea appears animated as she spots the woman who rescued her, bouncing with energy and looking eager for attention. The moment quickly struck a chord with viewers, who flooded the comments with gratitude and emotional reactions.
“You are an angel… the sweetest little donkey, [that’s] heartbreaking. Thank you.” one person wrote. Another added, “So glad you got her and saved her! she’s soooo happy just to be loved.”
But alongside the praise, some viewers also expressed concern about Andrea’s long-term care and companionship. Several commenters pointed out that donkeys are social animals and said they hoped she wasn’t living alone.
“A donkey should/must never be alone! find a buddy for her asap!!” one commenter wrote. Another echoed the concern, writing, “Awwww she’s so happy to see you. I hope she has friends as donkeys don’t like solitude.”
According to the video and posts shared online, Andrea is now living on a farm in Italy. Her rescuer is named Kristal Rigon, who appears to regularly share updates about the donkey’s new life.
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Other videos on Rigon’s TikTok show Andrea enjoying meals with her and spending time around other animals on the property. In additional clips, Andrea can be seen playing alongside horses, and the farm also appears to be home to pigs and other farm animals.
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