It is with great sadness I inform you all of the passing of the Harshaw donkey, “Regalo.” He passed away on Oct. 15, 2025.
Regalo’s Harshaw story began 17 years ago, when my cousin Frank “Tarzan” Soto called my parents, Felix and Josefine Soto, and asked them if they wanted a donkey. Someone had given him to Tarzan a few days prior, but Tarzan had no way of taking care of a donkey in Tucson.
My parents gladly accepted him and my cousins brought the donkey in a horse trailer to his new forever home in Harshaw with my parents and their cattle. He was already an adult, so we are not sure what his actual age was.
My dad gave the donkey the name “Regalo” because he was given to them as a gift. Regalo was also known by the cousins as El burro de Tarzan, or other funny names. Others called him Frank, or Pedro the donkey.
Regalo loved hanging out with the cows, a couple of the bulls, and he especially liked being near the younger calves. He was their protector. He always walked behind them and stood watch when they lay down to rest. That was his family and even though the cattle didn’t let him eat with them, he was always nearby.
Time passed and a few years ago my parents had to make the very hard decision to sell the cattle. That left Regalo very sad and alone. It was heartbreaking for my parents, but it had to be done.
Through the years so many of us have enjoyed him, whether it was seeing him on the side of the road as we passed by, taking a picture of him from far away, or up close as you fed him an apple or carrot.
One day a lady came up to my mom and offered her money to take pictures of Regalo. My mom told her that she did not charge for pictures but the lady insisted and told my mom that if ever anyone offered her money, she should take it.
I believe Regalo’s picture is in a lot of places, as my parents saw a lot of people stopping on the side of the road to take a picture of him over the last 17 years. So many people have given directions to family, friends and delivery drivers with Regalo as their marker.
But his story does not need to end. We would enjoy it if you shared your pictures or memories of Regalo with us. Email: terrynoel77@gmail.com