Saving Simon: How a Rescue Donkey Taught Me the Meaning of Compassion

I liked how the author highlighted the ways that his beloved rescue donkey affected him and his outlook on life.

I want to begin with my favorite passage from Saving Simon:“When an animal guides you, emotionally and spiritually, it is not an obvious thing. Rather, they open doors indirectly, and then a domino effect sets in. They open up one part, and then that experience opens up another.”As someone whose life has been positively changed for the better and enriched in ways I never saw coming because of caring for a dachshund that was paralyzed, I can closely relate to how the experience opens many facets of deepening in our understanding of love and compassion.It was difficult to begin the story and read of the conditions in which Simon lived, so close to death when he was found and Jon, and his wife, Maria brought him to their farm. It brought me to tears and I had to set the book down for a moment.But Simon was now in a place where he could heal and begin to live again. And in the process, as animals often do, they heal the humans around them, oftentimes without us even suspecting what is happening to us.Another passage from the book that touched me was this one:"And again, there was Simon’s spirit in my head. I can’t speak for what’s inside of his genial consciousness, but I can speak to what was inside of mine. From the first, I was struck by what I saw as the great trait of acceptance in Simon. People always spoke of him as being abused, rescued or neglected, but I saw no sign that Simon thought of himself in that way. Simon immediately got down to the basics of life—eating, walking, pursuing the girls, getting his ration of carrots and apples, getting brushed and fussed over."This is what I’ve come to love deeply about animals. Their adversity to getting on with life despite what they’ve been through. Their ability to love again also speaks volumes.Jon beautifully shares how Simon opened up a new world for him of understanding compassion in a way I’ve thought the same way in caring for special needs dogs.He describes Simon as a magical helper, a spirit guide to help him on his hero journey. His helper appeared in the form of a donkey. Who’d of thunk, right?But I believe our animal friends are calling out to us to be open to these important lessons to help heal our planet. Simon was just what Jon’s heart needed in opening to a new way of understanding. And when we open our hearts, we also open ourselves more deeply to understanding our fellow humankind.Jon’s honesty in sharing how he wished to understand the farmer that had Simon before him, I found, to be extraordinary. In one aspect he wanted the farmer, who was so far down into despair after all he endured the past years of hardship, to snap out of it, he realized the farmer was beyond reach.If we don’t feel for the human being who is so far into this dark place, how can we care for, and be open to the animals and planet around us?To feel compassion for all living beings is what helps each of us to heal, just as Jon so beautifully shares through his story of Simon.Simon, as I believe all animals are, are the definition of compassion. To now know Simon through the written word of Jon has opened another part in me that I welcome and am forever changed for the experience. Thank you, Simon….and Jon.Reviewed by Barbara Techel

A most touching tale of restoring an abused and neglected animal to health, in the process helping the author to understand his own self and his amazing capacity for compassion and patience.

This book, about the bonds that grow between a writer turned farmer who rescues a neglected donkey, is a life-changer if you will allow it to be. The donkey is a wonder of animal empathy who opens his human rescuer up to possibilities for peace and happiness he had never imagined for himself. In a terrible time this book is healing.

Katz has done it again. His books are always mesmerizing. His telling of Simon's story will make you mad at the mistreatment of all animals but as he weaves donkey history and his own history into the telling of Simon's story you will feel as if you are there listening and watching the story unfold.Jon does not just tell a good story. His own history story of the love of his dogs, sheep and the land makes you part of Katz love for his country home and care for all his animals. I always hate it when the book ends. Jon's heart is so big and his personality so warm, I always feel that I have been on a visit to his farm.Katz made me angry when he failed the little blind pony. I just think that Simon should have been tied up or put in another place due to his mean nature toward Rocky. Knowing what Simon did made me wonder why Jon did not take some preventative measures to keep Rocky safe. I truly got mad at Katz for being lax around Simon and his savagery. When I read about Rocky, I just stayed mad at Katz for days. Also, I do not think that the vet was right. I have learned my lesson about vets, you have to be the judge for your own animals--don't leave it up to science--the heart knows. Even Jon and his wife saw that Rocky was thriving.I think Jon might have feared the outcry from his neighbors if townsfolk would have seen Simon tied up as he should have been. Because I wasn't there, I have to pass on too strong an objection, but upon reading about Rocky's improvement and then suddenly having a vet tell Jon to put him down--I was shocked and in disbelief. Was this Jon Katz--animal lover? I would love to scream at Jon and say--"You just killed a healthy Donkey"!

I enjoyed the parts of the book that were about Simon - however, for me, too many bible class lessons.

Mr. Katz adds to his numerous tltles quite eloquently with this heart warming tale of a rescued donkey. Loving these creatures as I do, I seek out all the books and storiesabout them I can, and this one did not disappoint. If you like donkeys or simple want a nice story about a good family and their ever growing brood - and how adding a donkey to the mix turned into a blessing for all - this is a book for you.

Tried to cancel KindleWanted hard cover book

Other than their place in the third world all I knew about donkeys was their job of guarding sheep. This is a wonderful story about a donkey, a pony, a dog and Jon Katz. I have been a fan of his books since Orson and this book continues a great family story.A narrative about the magic and beauty that can be found in the simplest things in life.

Warm and engaging tale (tail?) without becoming anthropromorphic - that's not always easy to do.I'm kind of interested in tracking some of Mr. Katz's other books.