Monday, April 28, 2008

A visit from the donkey people

We had visitors over the weekend. Cindy and Duane, along with their daughter, Holly, drove 4 1/2 hours from their Southern Oregon home, on behalf of Peaceful Valley Donkey Rescue, to view our property. Peaceful Valley is the largest donkey rescue in the U.S. and is the leader in efforts to rescue abused and neglected domestic donkeys, as well as wild burros who are losing their habitat. Cindy and Duane run a Satellite Adoption Center (SAC) for PVDR and had been asked by the SAC coordinator in California to come and meet with me and make an assessment on our suitability to establish a Satellite Adoption Center here on our little farm. I have been corresponding with PVDR for over six months now, and with Cindy for about two months, so this visit was extremely exciting for me. Long before we ever moved to our 7 acres, I was plotting and planning how to we could use some of our land as an animal rescue or sanctuary.

And so, Saturday morning found the five of us - Cindy, Duane, Holly, my husband Jim, and I - walking the property, viewing our barn, discussing grass hay varieties and hay storage, talking about donkey care and personalities, and laughing a lot. Roxy, my pup, entertained, as usual, charming everyone with her energy, enthusiasm, and very best doggy grin. It was really fun.

Of course, we had to take a tour of the newly finished chicken coop, too:

Cindy wants to start having chickens of her own next year and was very pleased to see that I have two chicks of her favorite breed, the White-Crested Black Polish. So, my gal Dot has yet another fan!

Of course, I'm already fantasizing about how cool it would be to have one of these on the outside of my truck:

Thanks again, Duane, Holly and Cindy. It was so much fun spending time with you!:

Cindy said I passed with flying colors, which makes me one wonderful step closer to becoming a donkey foster mama!!

17 comments:

  1. Congratulations! Sounds like your world has been sunnier lately. Good.

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  2. Donkeys...I love 'em! Can't wait to see your adventures begin with them :)

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  3. That will be totally awesome to have donkeys on your farm.. We can hardly wait until you get them..

    Big Sloppy Kisses
    Gus and Louie

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  4. Dani, that is so fabulous. I have such a soft spot in my heart for donkeys, and the idea that ANYONE could abuse or neglect them just slays me. I think it's so great that you would offer a safe space for some animals in need.

    PS- Great timing with this post, too. This morning, the caninaturalist and I were out for our morning run when we came upon the two miniature donkeys who live nearby: they had escaped their fencing and were enjoying a spirited morning on the lam. Luckily, they didn't object to being led back home by a woman and her dog!

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  5. I had no doubt you would pass. I can hear the braying now!

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  6. I so hope you are going to get the donkeys! And soon! I will help in any way I can.

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  7. Yay! One step closer. I'm rooting for you.

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  8. This is very exciting Danni! I too can't wait to see your new additions and know they will have a wonderful home...I'm tearing up already!

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  9. Yay!! So happy for you! Can't wait to read all about your adventures with dinkeys!! :)

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  10. I'm sooooo jealous! We can't have donkeys in our neighborhood, despite having several acres. They're considered too noisy. Well, that and I'd have to move out to the barn to be with them----we are on a strict "no more animals" policy via my beloved husband. ;)

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  11. How wonderful Danni...Love the pics taken in the sunshine!

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  12. Wow, that's so cool! A rescue on your own farm?!!!!

    HAHA, LOVE the last picture!

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  13. Congratulations! How cool. One of the houses we are looking at has a burro that he said we could have if we wanted it. What do you know about burroes? Is this an animal we would want?

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  14. Congrats on soon becoming a foster "parent" and on yur chicken coop being completed! Glad to see the girls enjoy their new home.

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  15. Congratulations!! I'm so excited for you!

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