Jordan Champalou didn’t start documenting the adventures of his miniature pet donkey, Donkey, on social media until almost two years after first buying him. He figured people might find it interesting, but he wasn’t certain. 

Donkey’s now amassed over 168,000 followers on Instagram since Jordan started his account in June. The following continues to grow every day as videos of Donkey’s braying, walks around town and participation in events like pictures with Santa — mostly filmed by Jordan’s dad, Patrick Champalou — captivate viewers wanting a glimpse into the life of the Silverthorne-based burro. 

Like any true influencer, Donkey even has an official sponsor: Murdoch’s Ranch & Home Supply. 

Jordan said the novelty of the donkey and the joy he spreads draws people to him, noting Donkey is just a “happy little guy.” He said it wasn’t always this way. The 24-year-old said his pet donkey’s life used to be one filled with neglect. 

It’s the reason why Jordan ended up with Donkey in the first place. It’s the reason he stole him. 

Jordan’s ownership of Donkey began with a Class 4 felony, the classification for stealing livestock in Colorado. 

His bond to Donkey began when he moved to Colorado to work on a farm on the Front Range, where Donkey lived, around three years ago. Jordan said it didn’t take long for him to notice the inconsistent care the farm was giving Donkey. He said he was not being fed regularly, and his pen was not being cleaned out regularly, either. He began spending time with Donkey and wondered what he could do to help him feel better. He thought about how beneficial walks are for dogs, so he thought he’d give that a try. 

 “I started walking and taking care of him, and then… I decided that the donkey was mine,” he said. 

Patrick said he fielded a call from his son looking to vet the idea of stealing Donkey.  He told his son, “go for it.”

So, one day, Jordan put Donkey in a trailer and took him. It didn’t take long until the farm realized Donkey was stolen, and then Jordan had a warrant out for his arrest. The farm wanted Donkey back or for Jordan to purchase him, which he did. So, they dropped the charges. 

After the successful donkey heist, Jordan decided Donkey needed to see Jordan’s favorite place on earth: Loveland Pass.

“I had a vision of taking Donkey hiking up Loveland Pass, so when it came time to move, I ended up selling my lawn care business, and moved Donkey to a ranch up (in Summit),” he said.

Jordan said his sister’s roommate, who works near Silverthorne, drove by a sign on a private ranch advertising horse boarding. He called, and it turned out they accepted donkeys, too. He said Donkey’s new home has everything the first one didn’t: people to take care of him, a clean pen, room to graze and other equines to socialize with. 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Donkey the Donkey (@thewalkingdonkey)

A little while after the serendipitous finding of Donkey’s new home, came the serendipitous meeting of Donkey’s first sponsor, Murdoch’s Ranch & Home Supply. 

It started when Jordan caught the attention of Denver news outlets for running a fully electric lawncare service. It led to a tool brand inviting him on a trip to Germany, where he met the owner of Murdoch’s, who almost immediately signed up to sponsor Donkey. Donkey’s page now features videos of him strolling the aisles of Murdoch’s in a truly unique influencer-based marketing tactic. 

Jordan said while the social media following came as a surprise, people stopping Donkey everywhere he goes doesn’t. He said it’s because of the impact equines like donkeys can have on humans. 

Research shows equines have a special ability to read humans and can even manipulate their heart rate to mimic that of humans they are around. Jordan and Patrick said they see people’s moods shift in an instant when crossing paths with Donkey. 

Patrick said it’s interesting to see people commenting on Donkey’s Instagram that the world seems to “disappear” whenever they watch his content. 

Jordan’s donkey “mentor,” Logan Groves, a Castle Rock-based donkey owner who showed him the ropes, said she’s known for decades the joy donkeys can bring people, and the world finally seems to be catching on.

“Their sense of self is so strong, and they know exactly who they are. I think that makes them have such an amazing sense of humor,” she said. 

Jordan and Groves said they are seemingly seeing more Instagram pages featuring miniature donkeys as they become more popular as pets.

“Ninety-nine percent of the time you should not get a donkey,” Jordan said. “If you have a farm or a property with the means to take care of these animals, and you can have several of them, or at least animals for them to go play with, sure, go ahead.”

To get a donkey, you’d have to be ready for a decades-long commitment as donkeys can live up to 50, they said, with many living until 30, they both said. 

Groves described the cost and time commitment of owning a donkey as “enormous,” noting they require semi-frequent medical attention and that they often develop metabolic issues. 

Additionally, they need hay, and Groves said that hay often needs to be tested to ensure the sugar in it isn’t too high. 

So, for now, it might be best to get your donkey fix from social media or from visiting a farm where they can be accessed. 

Donkey’s Instagram page can be found at Instagram.com/theWalkingDonkey.