MSP helps find miniature donkey Dolly Parton after farm escape

Michigan State Police and local volunteers located a miniature donkey named Dolly Parton after she escaped from a Holly Township farm; Dolly was found and returned home safely.

A miniature donkey named Dolly Parton escaped from a Holly Township farm on Tuesday evening, prompting a community search that included neighbors, animal rescues and Michigan State Police. The escape happened after a high school student helping with chores accidentally left a gate open at Freeman Farm. Dolly ran off with another donkey named Henry, and social media helped mobilize searchers and rescue volunteers. Key details: - The gate was reportedly left open around 8 p.m., and both donkeys left the farm. - Henry returned to the farm around 9 p.m., while Dolly remained missing. - A neighbor's surveillance camera recorded Dolly and Henry walking through a driveway about half a mile from the farm at 8:37 p.m. - Michigan State Police troopers assigned to Holly Township joined the search, and a sergeant found Dolly wandering on a side road about 10:30 p.m. - Search teams, including volunteers organized by Abraham Ranch, used harnesses and lead ropes to help secure Dolly and return her home. - Owner Jason Freeman described his animals as family and noted the incident as a reminder about farm safety. Summary: The search brought neighbors, animal rescues and Michigan State Police together to find and return Dolly Parton to Freeman Farm, with surveillance footage and coordinated searching cited as key factors. The owner emphasized farm safety after the incident. Undetermined at this time.