Beautiful Humpy! Have you seen the new storybook we are putting out about Humpy? We are taking preorders now and they are selling very well. Look in the comments for how to get one for your donkey loving kiddos.
Baby donkeys
Eric and Oakley have the zoomies!
Peek at the rescue
Hey everyone. I wasn't able to get a lot of pictures today. It is getting ready to storm, so it was a busy time preparing the donkeys. I did make you a video to get a glimpse as I moved from place to place around part of the rescue.
Eric and Oakley have the zoomies! Look at these babies go. Eric is the baby who was rejected by his mother at 3 days old after being born on a kill pen lot. Oakley was puny when he was born and his mother had no milk. He had issues with his umbilical cord not closing and was just overall an unhealthy newborn. Both are being raised by the PPDR volunteers here at the rescue and are doing fantastic!
Donkeys gone wild
It is always so funny to watch the donkeys running and playing. I went out to the field recently to move some of the last hayride decorations. I heard their hoof beats coming from the distance. They found me. 😂😂 I hopped up in the back of the buggy to get a good video of them for you. Hope it brings a big smile on your face as it does mine. ❤️❤️ these sweet donkeys.
Their transformations, their character and personalities are really such an amazing part of rescue. I realize not all people feel donkeys have personalities, emotions, or intelligence. But caring for them and living among them day in and day out makes it very obvious they are so much more than people give them credit for. I am 100% sure our volunteers will all tell you that they are characters and so loving. If you have never hugged a donkey or spent time petting, grooming, or watching a happy donkey, you are missing out.
Donkeys being donkeys
As the day goes on and I move around the rescue to do chores, care for medical issues, check on everyone, etc, I stop and watch when I get a glimpse of a group of donkeys moving freely around their areas. I take comfort in knowing that they are relaxed, comfortable and happy. They will never have to be hungry again and once rehabilitated, never have to be skinny and weak. I watch as some who used to run at the sight of people now come right up to me and stand there waiting for a cookie or a pet. I love watching them transform. I love watching them period. Who their best friends are, who they hang out with, who they seem to not like, and how they navigate their way through life is all so interesting.
Thank you to everyone who has helped make this possible. Your donations allow us to continue providing the best care and life for nearly 300 donkeys. We may not be able to save them all, but we can change the lives of 100s a year and show you daily how your donation allows this to happen through pictures and videos. The donkeys in this video thank you also, for your generosity saved their lives.
Kenny gets freedom
Angie and Kenny left the stall and went to the mom and baby area. Yay! I love when they are strong enough to get out of the stall and gain their freedom to run and play. Hopefully Jaimie and his mom will be ready next week.
Donkeys being donkeys
What is the closest thing to Heaven on Earth for donkeys who experienced a time when they were beaten, starved, ignored, then pulled from their homes and thrown away? Peaceful Pastures Donkey Rescue.
We are a rescue that does not believe in crowding as many donkeys in a small space as possible. We do not believe in housing them in small areas forcing them into stalls most of their lives with small areas for "turnout" time. What we do believe in is giving them freedom to be a donkey, to be comfortable, to know that they are safe. They can roam in their groups, exploring, or they can wander off alone if they like and have that personal time. They can stay among a crowd if they like. They have options, and they choose.
Emotional and physical healing takes time, and it takes a supportive environment. That means that those who want love get it, and those who don't yet are not forced. Rescue should be holistic, providing a program for emotional as well as physical healing. This is what we have created here at Peaceful Pastures Donkey Rescue.
In this video I sat down in the road on a path when a group was coming. Others from a different direction followed the sound of the buggy and ended up on the fence line to the right. All the property is connected, but it requires going through gates that are not visible in the video. Notice the one who stops and stares at me. I'm certain he is trying to figure out why I'm just setting in the road. 😂 They are free to do as they wish, to respond to natural stimuli, to enjoy living. Hoss ended the video when he tried to eat my phone.
Donkey love
The time is nearing everyone! You do not want to miss our Fall and Halloween Kickoff events. Mark your calendars for Friday, October 4 and Saturday, October 5. Friday and Saturday nights we will have a haunted hayride that is sure to get your screaming voice warmed up for Halloween. You can also enjoy hot cocoa or cider after the hayride while enjoying some activities in the barn. Saturday through the day is our Donktoberfest Open House where you can meet and greet many of our 300 donkeys on-site, enjoy activities and learning about the donkeys. It is a fantastic time for all!
Happy Birthday!
Happy Birthday Kenny! Remember the hugely pregnant sweetheart we were waiting for? Well today was the day! Look how stout and healthy he is! Angie, his momma, came to us with a young baby. Little did we know, she was pregnant again. Most are that we rescue from the trader industry. But luckily she came early in her pregnancy. The difference between puny Oakley and Kenny is time here. Oakley's mom hasn't been here long and could not benefit from the rescue like Angie did. The result was a beautiful healthy baby. Guess what? Those of you coming to Donktoberfest and the Haunted Hayride will get to visit with them in the barn.
Heaven on Earth, Part 4
Enjoy the beauty of some of the donkeys as they come in from the woods and the back fields to prepare for dinner and cookie time. Reflect on the lives they came from, being starved, deprived of basic needs like hoof trims, dental care and basic medical needs, being beaten and maybe even cattle prodded by auction house workers, traders and unscrupulous owners. Many of these donkeys have overcome their abusive past and are waiting for their forever homes; others are working on it.
At Peaceful Pastures Donkey Rescue, the donkeys are comfortable, content, and happy. You won't see them in stalls, only to be turned out for a few minutes a day in a small run. You won't see them being herded from place to place in an institution-like environment. That is like prison. What you will see is donkeys being donkeys. They have lots of room to roam and play, moving about at their leisure. You will see them in their chosen pairs or groups. Some will stay in the busy field all day, which we liken to a big city. Others choose to live on the other side of the property, like a more rural location where they can be away from the crowds. Again, they have freedom to be donkeys and to be individuals. At Peaceful Pastures Donkey Rescue, we pride ourselves in providing a low stress, nurturing environment for the donkeys as part of our holistic approach to healing.
As a 501c3 organization, all donations are tax-deductible. We are 100% volunteer, meaning that every penny of your donation goes to the donkeys. We also welcome volunteers to help with the chores and administrative duties. Some administrative tasks can be done remotely. If you cannot do either, please continue to watch our videos, hit a like or love, and share our posts. We cannot save more without help. The donkeys need us all.
Alex's story
I want to share Alex's story with you all who have not seen it. Alex is in several pictures around the rescue, so you should know his story and how far he came.
When we look at the transformations that occur at Peaceful Pastures Donkey Rescue, we feel that transformation is as much a testament of the donkey's will and strength as it is our ability to rehabilitate. Not all donkeys with this kind of neglect will make it. Some give up and just stop fighting. But Alex was always a fighter and now he is living a great life happy and healthy.
