80-Year-Old Sole Resident of Remote Island Gifted Donkey as Companion 10 Years After Husband’s Death

Mar. 15, 2025

Irini Katsotourchi known as Mrs Rinio.Photo:YANNIS KOLESIDIS/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

YANNIS KOLESIDIS/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

An 80-year-old woman who is the sole resident of a remote Greek island has just found some company.

On Tuesday, Nov. 19, journalist Vasilios Saribalidisannounced on Facebookthat Irene Rinio had been gifted a donkey.

“After a long time, great effort and many friends who believed that we could keep our promise, the donkey that Mrs Rinio had asked for, has arrived at its new home,” Saribalidis wrote in a post translated from Greek.

According toGreek Reporter, Rinio, born Irene Katsotourchi, is the only person living on the remote Aegean island of Kinaros, which is around 160 miles southeast of Athens.

The outlet added that she has lived alone on the 2 square miles island since her husband died in 2013.

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Irini Katsotourch known as Mrs Rinio.YANNIS KOLESIDIS/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

The 80-year-old was born on the equally small island of Amorgos and grew up in Kinaros. When she got married, she lived with her family on the Aegean island of Kalymnos, but the couple then migrated to Australia, per Greek Reporter.

“We traveled to Kinaro with a Ronin 35 (made in Greece) equipped with 2x350 Yamaha and saw up close the joy that the heroine of the Aegean got," Saribalidis continued on Facebook about the moment the donkey was delivered.

“Thanks to everyone who believed in this mission and soon we will upload a related video on YouTube… Stay tuned..,” he concluded.

Mrs Rinio’s gift comes after PEOPLE reported about astray dog becoming a companionearlier this year.

Per aJune 11 Facebook postfromAustin Pets Alive!(APA), the two-year-old Great Pyrenees named Wesley was found living among a pack of other canines and “in need of our Medical Triage & Wellness Clinic due to a large wound around his neck.”

The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now!

APA’s Facebook post about Wesley included a video that detailed his gradual transformation from being “shut down” to becoming ready for “foster-to-adopt.”

According to the APA at the time, Wesley ultimately settled into a new home with a new family.

He went from “an injured feral stray dog to a loving new companion to an amazing family,” an APA spokesperson added at the time.

source: people.com