A Helping Hand for Donkey Care
With the recent cold snap, 31 Mini Donkeys take shelter in the new heated Senior Barn. (Photo Credit: Alice Shether)
Donkey Refuge Release
Sakura’s Hope Foundation matched $30,000 in donations for the Donkey Care & Comfort Fund and the Turtle Valley Donkey Refuge exceeded their winter season fundraising target of $80,000.
Over the past 10 years, as social issues have become more prominent in our country, funding for animal welfare organizations has been bumped down the list on many granting programs. This winter, the Turtle Valley Donkey Refuge knew they needed to raise $80,000 to cover the cost of the Donkey’s winter season care; luckily Sakura’s Hope Foundation was there to help support the Refuge with $30,000 in matching funds! Sakura’s Hope Foundation is dedicated to helping animal rescue organizations and with this funding, the Refuge’s generous supporters met and exceeded their funding goal, raising a total of $86,608.
Located near Chase, the Donkey Refuge provides a safe, secure, and permanent home for neglected, abused or unwanted Donkeys. Refuge Founder Shirley Mainprize and her husband Rob Miller have been rescuing donkeys for over 25 years. “The Refuge houses over 100 donkeys in permanent care, with foster farms helping support our cause. We are also grateful to have a core of dedicated donors, supporters, volunteers, and staff who help us.”
Open for visiting during the summer, the Refuge maintains a small staff year-round to care for the Donkeys & Mules. “Winter is especially difficult for Donkeys because they are native to Africa and have never really adapted to the snow and low temperatures in Canada.” Most of the Equines under care at the Refuge are senior donkeys, or donkeys/mules with severe health issues. Many of them require specialized daily care to ensure they are living a healthy and happy life.
The Refuge believes in the 5 Freedoms of Animal Welfare and bases their equine care on these principals. As defined by the BC SPCA online, the five freedoms are: “freedom from hunger and thirst; freedom from pain, injury and disease; freedom from distress; freedom from discomfort; freedom to express behaviors that promote well-being.”
During the winter season, this care means not only moving older frail donkeys into heated barn spaces, blanketing Donkeys and Mules who may need extra comfort, creating warm mash with extra nutrients to help stabilize animal weight, providing space and time for exercise and play, but also help by providing a budget for vet care due to any issues related to cold exposure or sudden temperature changes. Many of the temperature issues seen in donkeys are related to colic and can be deadly. The addition of heated barn space has helped reduce these issues greatly.
Mainprize notes, “due to the generosity of Sakura’s Hope Foundation, and all our dedicated supporters who donated to help with the Donkey Care & Comfort Fund, we are able to cover our heating costs for the barn, and the call out cost when we have needed a vet. These funds have made sure we can keep our focus on preventative care, and that we also have space and funds available for emergency rescue care this winter.”
If you would like to learn more or donate, please visit the Refuge online at turtlevalleydonkeyrefuge.com or call Shirley 250-679-2778. All donations will receive a tax receipt. The Refuge will re-open for visitors in Spring 2024.
