Rancho Burro Donkey Sanctuary

Rancho Burro Donkey Sanctuary Our mission is to rescue, rehabilitate, and give lifetime homes to abused, abandoned, and neglected donkeys & mules.

We strive to create positive change in our community through various initiatives and programs sharing the healing & goodness of donkeys.

This magnificent boy, a draft mule, likely spent his whole life pulling a wagon, for instance, and then when he began ha...
12/03/2025

This magnificent boy, a draft mule, likely spent his whole life pulling a wagon, for instance, and then when he began having physical issues and unable to work, he was dumped at the kill pen.

He weighs 1500 + pounds, but when in the kill pen he was at least 300 lbs less, starving.

He is here at Rancho B***o getting crucial medical care, good nutrition and lots of love. He is so kind and gentle. We have done bloodwork, hoof care; he has been on antibiotics, steroids, pain meds, and needs leg wraps still for infection near a joint.

These things are huge financial challenges, but absolutely necessary for the work we are doing here.

Today, designated GIVING TUESDAY, you can be a part of the recovery and care of each of our 31 resident donkeys and mules.

Please consider donating to Rancho B***o Donkey Sanctuary.
https://donorbox.org/giving-tuesday-2025-844847

We appreciate the love and support of our animals.

Thank you,
Carlen Eckford
Founder & Medical Directore

12/02/2025

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A Founder’s Note on Giving Tuesday
(From Jim and Carlen Eckford)

It is a profound privilege to work with these incredible animals every day. Leading Rancho B***o Donkey Sanctuary is the honor of our lives.

The work is demanding—weather we are establishing routines with our epic team, providing critical veterinary care including hoof and dental work, working on crucial event fundraisers to support the sanctuary, welcoming guests for private educational tours sharing the goodness and healing space of Rancho B***o, or welcoming 12 new donkeys and mules rescued from the slaughter pipeline—one thing never changes: we have the daily honor of witnessing neglected donkeys find safety, peace, and a lifetime of care. In addition we witness our community experience the healing of Rancho B***o Donkey Sanctuary, every single day.

This is why we personally give: because we see the transformative impact of this specialized care up close, and we know every dollar changes a life for these deserving animals.

The cost to rehabilitate and give lifetime care for our 31 residents—is substantial and today, on Giving Tuesday, we have a wonderful opportunity!

Every donation is MATCHED up to $5,000, doubling that impact and helping us keep our new 46-acre sanctuary and medical barn and rehabilitation center running!!!

If the gentle spirit and profound need of these donkeys and mules have moved you to support their care, we invite you to stand with us and support the care these animals deserve.

Help us save more lives and provide more forever homes.

Donate by clicking the link in our bio!
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12/01/2025

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💫
Our first Sanctuary Sound Journey with Dee DiGioia from on November 22 was a beautiful success.

The event was a harmonious blend of raising crucial funds for our donkey and mule rescues while providing rehabilitation and a lifetime home.
Dee has mindfully donated her time for the last four months, introducing our rescues to sound therapy to help them heal from past trauma (abuse, abandonment, neglect, and the slaughter pipeline). This preparation allowed them to share their calmness and healing energy with our community supporters.

The day of peace and calm included a mindful meet-and-greet with the donkeys and mules, an incredible custom charcuterie board donated by Charcuterie, and a one-hour sanctuary sound journey in our arena, allowing guests to bask in the healing energy of Rancho B***o Donkey Sanctuary.

We are so grateful to Dee and look forward to continuing this wellness series into 2026.

Stay tuned for three Sanctuary Sound Journeys scheduled for the 2026.

Thank you to Matthew at an incredible photographer who captured these amazing shots, and to our dedicated team and everyone who mindfully made this event happen.

We are thrilled to share the compassion and healing of our sanctuary with our community.
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11/28/2025

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🛍️🫏
Shop with a Purpose this Black Friday!

Enjoy 20% OFF everything in our virtual gift shop starting today through December 3rd!

Every purchase directly supports our mission to rescue, rehabilitate, and give lifetime homes to abused, abandoned, and neglected donkeys and mules—most of whom have been rescued from slaughter pipelines.

Use Promo Code: BLACKFRIDAY25 at checkout.

Grab some great gifts and help us change lives.

🔗 Link in bio to shop!

11/19/2025

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SAVE THE DATE
Giving Tuesday - December 2nd!

Rescue, Rehabilitation, and a Forever Home: Support Rancho B***o This Giving Tuesday

On December 2nd, join us for Giving Tuesday and help us secure a lifetime of care for donkeys and mules rescued from abuse, neglect, and abandonment.
Rancho B***o Donkey Sanctuary provides essential care, rehabilitation, and a safe, permanent home for these deserving animals. With our new 46-acre sanctuary and state-of-the-art medical facilities, we are equipped to handle complex rescue cases, including our newest donkey arrivals, Wookie, Mr. Ed and the Texas 5 bonded Jenny’s.
Every dollar you donate directly supports our ongoing operations, including:
* Specialized hay and feed
* Urgent veterinary care and rehabilitation
* Essential farrier and hoof maintenance
Donations are the sole source of funding for our mission and are critical to ensuring we can continue this vital work. As a registered non-profit organization, all contributions are tax-deductible.
This Giving Tuesday, please consider making a compassionate gift. Your support allows us to give these donkeys and mules the happy, peaceful lives they deserve.
Visit the link below for more information on how to donate and learn about our mission.
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11/07/2025

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✨
What a night!  Our hearts are still overflowing with gratitude from the incredible energy and support at our 1st Annual Hearts and Hooves Fundraising Gala. 
It was a beautiful evening dedicated to the gentle souls we are so privileged to care for.
A heartfelt thank you to our generous sponsors who laid the foundation for our success, to every guest who shared the evening with us and bid with their hearts, and to our amazing volunteers and supporters who believe in our mission.
Because of you, we can continue to provide a lifetime of peace, healing, and expert care for donkeys and mules in need. You are the heart behind our sanctuary. Thank you for making our first gala a night to remember!
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⭐️SINCERE THANKS TO OUR EVENT SPONSORS:
⭐️Sanctuary Steward
The Mederios Family
⭐️Donkey Defenders
The Webster Family
Sharon & Michael Belcher
⭐️B***o Buddieswilson010 Sothebys
SLO CAL Roots

🍻Drink Sponsors🍷






🎙️Auction Sponsors

















The Durling Family
Through the Eyes of Glass
Polly’s Place Guest House
SLO CAL Roots

💜Event Supporters







Picwick Equestrian, Inc.
DJ David Hughes
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11/06/2025

☀️
It fills our hearts to watch our five bonded Jennys, rescued from in Texas, to truly begin to settle in. You can see them learning what it means to finally be safe.

Little Liberty is a social butterfly. We are so relieved and happy to report that Peppermint is fully healed from her painful hoof abscess. Star has such a gentle, motherly nature with the others. Love simply lives up to her name in every way, and curious Bell is starting to explore her new world with confidence.

It’s a simple, profound truth: every living being on this planet just wants to be safe.

Watching these girls realize they are not only safe, but deeply loved and in their forever home... that is why we do this.

You can help us continue to provide them with this promise of lifetime care. To learn more and contribute, check out the link in our bio.
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home

11/05/2025

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Fundraising for Mr. Ed!

Mr. Ed is an incredible draft mule who was pulled from a kill pen, saved from the slaughter truck to Mexico in June 2025 by and he is in need of continued care.
His journey to rehabilitation and a safe, lifetime home has begun, but we need your help to cover his immediate intake costs.

His immediate needs:
* $600 - Immediate dental work
* $400 - Diagnose, assess, and treat wounds on his left rear leg
* $100 - Medical supplies to treat his wounds
* $350 - 1 month of feed and health supplements
* $75 - Hoof maintenance
Every dollar makes an impact and your support will directly fund his path to a healthy retirement.

Mr. Ed is an amazingly kind soul. We are now responsible for his happiness, his medical needs, and everything for the rest of his life. He is a lovely mule, no good teeth, needs a food mash 4 times a day. So sensitive,m and it's an honor to care for him.
He is a mule who was discarded after a lifetime of service and in line for slaughter in Mexico.
How do people relegate their faithful, kind animals to a truck to a horrible, inhumane slaughter in Mexico?
We cannot understand the mentality that treats animals like a disposable object with no heart, opinions, love, kindness, and no thought of how why and how they will die.
We know from spending quiet times with our donkeys, that they are sensitive, soulful, understanding beings, who just want to be safe in whatever situation they are in. They have beautiful, forgiving spirits and love being loved.

Please help us give Mr. Ed the care, love, and forever home that he deserves.
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To donate:
https://ranchoburrodonkeysanctuary.org/mr-ed
Venmo:
PayPal: ***oDS
Mail checks to:
Rancho B***o Donkey Sanctuary
4855 Righetti Road
San Luis Obispo, CA 93420
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10/30/2025

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To understand the depth and joy of this video, you need to know their stories.

On Tuesday, we welcomed Mister Ed, a giant draft mule rescued by (ASIAB) from a Texas kill pen in June 2025.

He joins our group of “misfits.” There’s Ginger, our large mule rescued in January 2025. She was intended for packing, then left with parents who couldn’t care for her and were going to euthanize her or send her to slaughter.

There’s Pepe, a young, wild jack rescued in March 2024. He was found tied up, his halter embedded in his face, with only weeds for food.

And there’s our mini mule Napoleon (aka Nappy Jackson) also saved by and He has a “little man’s syndrome” and has struggled to find his place.

We put these misfits together, but integration is never simple. This is the reality of sanctuary. Ginger was always bossing other donkeys. Pepe, though gelded, still has trouble self-regulating. Napoleon was being Napoleon.

Mister Ed was the final piece of the puzzle. Ginger loves him—we finally have a rescue bigger than her, but one who is kind and gentle where she is sassy. Napoleon, who thinks he’s as big as Mister Ed, feels he has an equal. Pepe has found his balance and peace with this group.

You never know when families are going to be born through the common experience of trauma, healing and family.

Thank you to for saving both Mister Ed and Napoleon from the slaughter pipeline. We are grateful to share these stories and highlight the collaborative work of national rescues.

To find out more about our donation options, visit the link in our bio.
Thank you for supporting ALL of us!
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🎥Barn Manager - Nancy DeRuchie

10/27/2025

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🧡

When Mr. Ed was rescued by All Seated in a Barn from a Texas auction in June 2025, his situation was dire.
He hadn’t just been at an auction; he was sold to the largest export slaughter pen and tagged to ship directly to Mexico.
He was older, worn down, and extremely thin. Mules like Mr. Ed are “white diamonds” in the auction pipeline—loyal and hardworking, often dumped when ‘too old’ and no longer useful.
Since then, his transformation at All has been amazing. He has gained approximately 200 pounds, his coat is shiny, and his true personality has emerged.
Mr. Ed is arriving at Rancho B***o Donkey Sanctuary on Tuesday. He will live out his days with us, receiving everything he needs for the rest of his life.
He deserved the chance to retire—not be sent to slaughter—but to live out his days knowing peace and love.
Thank you to the amazing community for making Mr. Ed’s rescue a reality for All Seated in a Barn.
NOW, please help us complete his journey home by donating for his transport, intake and lifetime care.
⭐️
Donation links in bio.
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Address

4855 Righetti Road
San Luis Obispo, CA
93401

Telephone

+18057108445

Website

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