Ralph Mitchell Zoo in Independence has lost another member of its animal family.

The Sardinian donkey named Jenny recently passed away. Jenny has been a favorite of Independence residents and visitors to Ralph Mitchell Zoo since her birth in December 1986. Jenny turned 38 years old this year and had begun to have issues with her hooves. Zoo officials report that an exam and x-rays performed in July revealed that Jenny had laminitis in all her hooves and that the bones had begun to over-rotate. The rotation caused the animal to experience pain and the condition was being managed with pain relievers. However, another exam in November revealed that the condition had worsened and that the medicine was no longer relieving the donkey’s pain. Zoo officials made the decision to euthanize the animal.

The average lifespan for a Sardinian donkey is between 30 and 35 years.