Have you thought about sponsoring a donkey?
Many of our senior donkeys will reside at the rescue for the rest of their lives. There are different reasons why each one should remain, but, in essence, these older donkeys require more specialized care, and we feel they have been through enough changes in their lives. They are happy and secure here, and we know best how to meet their needs.
When you sponsor a donkey with your monthly gift, you help us provide and budget for not only their basic everyday needs, but also for the unexpected. Special supplements or medication, vet visits and hospital stays are always potentially part of the care of our seniors or other donkeys with special requirements. By having multiple sponsors for our donkeys, you help us cover our daily expenses for them so that we are prepared for the unexpected.
There are 3 levels of sponsorship which coincide with the three sizes of donkeys: mini, standard and mammoth. At all sponsorship levels, donors receive a sponsorship certificate and a card with the donkey’s picture and biography. Monthly sponsors are also welcome to come visit their sponsored donkey (please check out our “Want to Visit” page for details).
Mini ($25 monthly)
- The “mini” level provides hay for your sponsored donkey.
Standard ($50 monthly)
- The “standard” level provides hay and bedding for your sponsored donkey.
Mammoth ($100 monthly)
- The “mammoth” level provides hay, shavings, a hoof trim, and some basic veterinary care for your sponsored donkey.
Scroll through the donkeys and see which special donkey you would like to sponsor today!
**It is important to note that your contribution not only provides for your sponsored donkey, but it also goes into a general fund to help care for all of their friends here at the rescue. **
Stella and Xena
|
Type: Small Standard |
Pick Me! |
We discovered Stella at a notorious local livestock auction. She and another donkey were starving, frightened, and full of rain rot. We decided to bid on them and were successful in getting both of them. Later in the auction, a young, terrified little donkey hobbled into the auction ring with a very damaged leg. We were the only bidders for this poor donkey and so she became ours. We soon learned that she was the daughter of Stella and was still nursing! Somehow, they had been separated and we never saw her, or knew they were family! Her leg wound was debilitating and causing her tremendous pain. We took them directly to the vet on our way home from the auction and learned that Xena had wire deeply embedded around her leg resulting in tissue and bone damage. She required surgery and months of daily bandage changes. Her courage and determination earned her the strong name Xena. We discovered that Stella was pregnant, and 11 months later, she gave birth to a beautiful baby boy we named Duncan. This close knit family loves one another tremendously, and we will never split them up!
Walter, Reese, Ellie, Rowdy and Maize
| Type: Miniature Donkeys Age: Between 20+ and 40+ years Gender: 2 Jennies, 3 Geldings Surrendered: 2022 Status: Sanctuary |
Pick Me! |
These very senior donkeys were surrendered on one of the coldest days in winter. All five suffered from long-term neglect and shivered uncontrollably. Their feet hadn’t been tended to in years. Their teeth were loose, sharp and painful, making eating unpleasant. Walter – who is at least 40! – was in the worst shape, but all had fevers, congestion and coughs. Gradually, with intense care and rehabilitation, they began to recover. Ellie watches out for Maize, who is blind, and the boys have been showing some sass! Their improving health is shown by their bright eyes, new-found vigor, and renewed enthusiasm. We don’t know how much time on earth these old timers have left, but they will spend their “golden years” in comfort and safety at Little Longears.
Big Clyde
| Type: Mammoth Age: About 21 years Gender: Gelding Surrendered: 2016 Status: Sanctuary |
RIP |
Big Clyde was the oldest member of a group of mammoth donkeys to which we alerted officials in 2016. Big Clyde had many years of neglect before he arrived here, and sometimes his rough past catches up with him. He requires a lot of specialized care to keep him comfortable and healthy. Big Clyde’s booming bray at feeding time is unmistakable, and we know he’s happy here with his friends, where he gets all the vet and farrier care he needs so that he can live the best life possible. Big Clyde crossed the Rainbow Bridge on 1/20/23.
Brighty
| Type: Miniature donkey Age: About 21 years Gender: Gelding Surrendered: 2014 Status: Sanctuary |
Pick Me! |
Brighty lived in horrible conditions at a farm where the owner neglected all his equines. The animals lacked food and water, but smart little Brighty figured out how to escape to find grass and water throughout his neighborhood. A good Samaritan neighbor finally convinced the owner to sell Brighty to her, and she then brought Brighty to our rescue. He was frightened, hadn’t had any hoof care and wasn’t gelded. Brighty today is as sweet as can be, an absolute gem who gets along with all the other donkeys. He is, however, a bit suspicious with new people. Because he knows and trusts us, we can do just about anything with him, but he does get nervous when anyone new tries to work with him. We want Brighty to feel safe for the rest of his life and not have to endure any more change, so he gets to stay here in sanctuary.
Chloe and Charlotte
| Type: Donkeys Age: 32 and 33 Gender: Jenny Surrendered: 2019 Status: Sanctuary |
Pick Me! |
Chloe and Charlotte are sisters who are incredibly bonded to each other. They are two of the sweetest, most loving donkeys we have ever encountered. These very senior girls were surrendered in August 2019 at the ages of 32 and 33! Like so many of our seniors, these girls were reluctantly given up by an owner who aged out of caring for them, but who sought the best possible environment in which they could live out the remainder of their lives, surrounded by other donkeys and people who could offer them tender, loving care.
We are sorry to report in March 2022 Charlotte crossed the Rainbow Bridge. Chloe is doing well, and finds comfort with all of her herdmates.
Daniel
| Type: Miniature donkey Age: About 26 years Gender: Gelding Surrendered: 2015 Status: Sanctuary |
Pick Me! |
Daniel arrived at our rescue from a terrible neglect situation. He was timid, beat up and scarred from fighting with intact (not gelded) mules. Daniel wasn’t gelded, either, which increased his frustration with and aggression towards the other equines. His hooves, which had never been trimmed, were in awful condition. Several years later, and after getting gelded, he is one of the sweetest, easiest-going boys here! He has a wonderful personality, and a cute trick of sticking out his tongue when he wants a treat. Daniel, always a favorite among visitors, will enjoy his golden years at our rescue.
Daisy
| Type: Miniature donkey Age: 20 years Gender: Jenny Surrendered: 2018 Status: Sanctuary |
Pick Me! |
Daisy was surrendered (along with her younger buddy) because her owners’ health issues meant they were unable to continue to care for both donkeys. She was well cared for except for some dental issues that were not resolved, which caused her incredible difficulty eating. Our equine dentist has worked on her several times. Daisy finally is chewing much better, but she still needs softened feed and hay pellets to supplement her diet to ensure she does get enough to eat. In 2019, she started showing signs of a diseased eye. After months of treatment, and consultations with our veterinarian and an equine ophthalmologist, it was determined that removing her eye would provide her the most long-term comfort. Daisy had the surgery in May 2019 and is thriving now! It is clear that the diseased eye was really bothering her and causing her pain, because her personality has blossomed since she’s recovered from the eye removal surgery. Daisy has adjusted very well and appears to be happier than ever.
Gabe
| Type: Standard donkey Age: About 24 years Gender: Gelding Surrendered: 2016 Status: Sanctuary |
Pick Me! |
When we rescued Gabe from a livestock auction in the summer of 2016, he was in terrible shape, neglected in every way. Once he arrived at Little Longears, he seemed lost and sad. Gabe desperately wanted to come into the barn and just hang out in a stall. But, despite his condition when we found him, he must have been a treasured donkey at some point in his life: he is sweet and is comfortable being handled, and he has such good manners. Someone once loved and trained him. We will never know what his story was before we rescued him, or how or why he ended up at an auction, but he is safe and loved here. This sweet boy now has lots of donkey friends, in particular a little guy named Alex. We’ve promised Gabe that he will never, ever end up at another auction again.
Gracie
| Type: Miniature donkey Age: About 21 years Gender: Jenny Surrendered: 2017 Status: Sanctuary |
Pick Me! |
Carroll County Animal Control called us in June 2017 to assist in the seizure of an emaciated and neglected donkey, the only donkey among 20 equines living in deplorable conditions. (Another rescue took the horses.) This adorable little jenny was living in a gross, dark stall with no bedding, just deep manure; no hay or other food, and disgusting water. She was extremely thin and infested with lice; bald spots covered her body where she had rubbed off her hair as she sought relief from the itching. Less than 3 months later, Gracie gave birth to a little jenny, Piper. Gracie’s lice infestation, poor body condition, damaged hooves and teeth were addressed promptly, but recovery from severe physical neglect takes time. Recovery from emotional neglect can take even longer; although Gracie trusts us now, she still is nervous, and she is wary of many humans. Because this brave jenny already has endured so much, we don’t want to put her through any more changes. Gracie will remain in sanctuary at our rescue with the people who know her best, and whom she trusts.
Joe
| Type: Miniature donkey Age: 26 years Gender: Gelding Surrendered: 2017 Status: Sanctuary |
RIP |
Joe was surrendered to our rescue when his owner passed away. He is quite the character! However, when he arrived, it was clear that educated care had not been provided for him. His teeth were such a wreck that he could not eat well at all. His feet were incredibly painful. He has had a lot of dental work since his arrival, and he finally is able to eat with relative ease. His feet were so painful that he needed medication for a while, and to wear special shoes. Joe is doing so much better that, as long as he has his special shoes on, he no longer needs medication to remain comfortable. Joe is one of the favorites among our visitors, always hanging around the barn and looking for treats. This charming extrovert gets dressed up for all our public functions! Joe crossed the Rainbow Bridge on 12/6/22.
Matt and Jeff
| Type: Miniature donkeys Age: 32 years Gender: Geldings Surrendered: 2018 Status: Sanctuary |
Pick Me! |
Matt and Jeff were surrendered by their owners, who were older and having trouble caring for them. Both boys were suffering from health issues largely due to their inability to eat well. Their teeth were a disaster, in desperate need of attention. Their teeth were long and sharp, and eating was very painful for both donkeys. Shortly after their arrival, Jeff started showing signs of liver failure. We rushed both to the hospital, where Jeff was treated for 3 weeks with intensive care. Despite a very grave diagnosis when he arrived at the hospital, Jeff pulled through and made a miraculous recovery! These two best friends are feeling so much better. With teeth no longer painful, and other health issues resolved, Matt and Jeff should have many more golden years to enjoy life at our rescue.
Turtle
| Type: Miniature donkey Age: 22 years Gender: Jenny Surrendered: 2018 Status: Sanctuary |
RIP |
Turtle was surrendered by a woman who inherited a farm full of debilitated animals. All were in terrible condition, suffering from varying stages of neglect. She had lived with a dozen llamas for 20 years, never spending any time with another donkey. She was dangerously obese, and her feet were very painfully overgrown. Turtle was terrified of people. When we went to pick her up, she was so stressed that she collapsed before we ever got her in the trailer. She lay there, unwilling to get up, so we made a sling and carried her into the trailer. The first few weeks at our rescue were stressful for her. Turtle finally was surrounded by other donkeys, but she was also very, very nervous. It took time to help her get healthy, make her feet more comfortable, and show her that people are okay.
Rosie, Rocky and Randy
| Type: Miniature donkeys Age: 24 years and 16 years Gender: 1 Jenny & 2 Geldings Surrendered: 2019 Status: Sanctuary |
Pick Me! |
Rosie and Rocky, together with their son Randy, were surrendered in May 2019 by responsible owners who could no longer take care of them. Many people find they are in danger of being outlived by their donkeys, and seek a long-term solution for their donkeys’ ongoing care. This little family falls into that category. The personalities of all three donkeys reflect their prior home: they are friendly, outgoing and charming. (Rocky even “volunteered” to tag along on a visit to a local public library, spontaneously leaping into the trailer with 2 other (unrelated) donkeys!) But, although the donkeys were loved and cared for, like many others, they are not always comfortable being handled. They still react warily when approached with a halter, are not fond of the vet, the equine dentist or the farrier, and need additional training and tutoring. This wonderful senior family will live out their lives in sanctuary at Little Longears.