Donkeys want to live in my barn

Donkeys want to live in my barn. I can just feel it.

I have developed an extreme fondness for donkeys that I'm not sure many people understand. This affection actually extends to any member of the Equidae family and Equus genus, however, donkeys, in particular, touch me. In my experience, they are such curious:

funny:

gentle:

familiar:
and friendly creatures.

They are so happy to be the beneficiary of a kind voice, a pat or a scratch:

...and maybe a small treat or two:

It was one of my biggest wishes, when we moved out here to our little farm, that I would be able to continue my efforts to help animals that have been abandoned, abused, or neglected. While my son and I continue to spend a great deal of time at the Lighthouse Farm Animal Sanctuary, I would now like to bring some of this very rewarding work home.


I first heard of Peaceful Valley Donkey Rescue about a year ago, but didn't contact them until early December, shortly before we moved to our new property. They are a well-respected, highly organized, non-profit organization that is currently establishing Satellite Adoption Centers (SACs) across the country. I have signed up to become such an adoption center for the Northern Oregon/Southern Washington area. If accepted, I would become, basically, a foster mama for up to six donkeys, while trying to find them new families to love them and adopt them.

This appeals to me on a number of levels: 1) it furthers my animal activism and volunteerism, 2) it gets me close to donkeys and 3) it helps these precious guys find homes they deserve.

I've reached stage four of the PVDR application process (Stage 1: initial contact and inquiry on my part, which was followed by an email acknowledgement from the founder of Peaceful Valley stating "yes, we are interested in speaking with you further". Stage 2: Follow-up phone call from SAC coordinator to interview me and request that I fill out required paperwork and send photos of my property and barn. Stage 3: Email follow-up that they've received my paperwork, that my property "looks beautiful" and that they'll "be in touch". Stage 4: A visit by one of the Rescue employees will be scheduled to check out, in person, whether I would be a good donkey mama. This is the part I'm now waiting for. Last word was that in March or April, the SAC coordinator would be coming through my area and will stop by to meet me then.

So, I think donkeys want to live in my barn.

This will make me very happy if this works out.

My son, Aidan, and his pal, Oyte (pronounced Odie) at the Lighthouse Farm: