Perry, the donkey that inspired the character of Donkey in the film Shrek, died at the age of 30. Suffering from laminitis, an incurable hoof disease, he was euthanized to end his suffering.
Born in 1994 in New York, Perry served as a model for DreamWorks animators to create the character of Donkey in Shrek, released in 2001. Animators observed his behaviors and appearance to bring the animated character to life.
After the film's release, Perry became a local celebrity and also served as a mascot for the city of Palo Alto, California, where he had resided since 1997. Despite his significant contribution to the film, he was not mentioned in the credits.
The Barron Park Donkey Project, who cared for Perry, expressed their deep sadness at his passing. They shared that in his final weeks, they spent many moments comforting him, singing songs to him and reminding him that he was loved…
