MISSION & PROGRAMS

Mission:
Provide rescue donkeys (of all ages, sizes and types) a forever home so they feel seen, cherished and loved for the rest of their lives (which can be up to 50 years).

Our organization provides programs involved with equine rescue & retirement
Our organization does not provide community outreach and/or public education programs involving horses.
Our organization is directly responsible for the care and shelter of equines involved in our programs.
100% of our total programs and services are equine-related.

Our organization does not CURRENTLY use satellite, overflow, foster, and/or outreach facilities.


Summary of organization's recent accomplishments, goals, strategies to achieve the goals, and capabilities to meet the goals, including its long-term plans to sustain its programs:
2023 was an exciting year at Donkey Dreams as we made it through our first full year of sanctuary operations without any major hitches. It was definitely a “growth” year for Donkey Dreams in the number of donkeys added to our family and the robust implementation of our donkey care programs and sanctuary expansion plan. Coming from the rescue world where we worked with hundreds of donkeys, mainly burros, in 2023, we made a major shift from the rescue level of care (what we term foster care) to sanctuary care (what we term forever home care).
     
     DONKEY FAMILY GROWTH
     
     After starting 2023 with 25 permanent residents, our Donkey Dreams family has grown by 19 precious donkey souls during 2023, which brings our long-ear family to a total of 44 donkeys.
     
     3 MOM/BABY PAIRS - TEXAS AUCTION RESCUE
     
     Each donkey we bring to Donkey Dreams is special and brings a unique story, such as the six donkeys rescued from Texas this summer. At the end of July, we learned of a donkey family of three moms and their babies ending up at a livestock auction where they were destined to be shipped across the border to be slaughtered so their hides could be used to make Eijao tea and other virility and fertility supplements. We knew that our donkey family was going to grow at some point, so we were ready. When we received the call about this family of six, we felt in our hearts they were meant to come to Donkey Dreams, all the way from Texas. They arrived scared and standoffish. However, in the last six months, they have really come to like humans and have been a wonderful addition to our donkey family. And the baby donkey cuddles have been priceless for us and our donkey sponsors.
     
     NESTOR
     
     When we met Nestor at his home in St. George, he was standing with his face to the wall, ears down, and covered in flies and even a couple of wasps. At that moment, we wanted to take him home with us, but we needed to follow the proper protocol and have a vet evaluate him before bringing him home. We had never seen wasps on a donkey before, but he had so much exposed flesh from fly strike that it was attracting wasps. Additionally, we had never met a donkey with such a low life force. It was like he had checked out of his body. What made it even more frustrating as a donkey lover is that the other 5 horses that were there were well-cared for. While we wanted to get mad and blame the owners for the neglect of this amazing creature, we decided to focus all of our energy on getting him to Donkey Dreams. Plus, we were grateful to the family members who saw that Nestor was neglected and wanted a better life for him, so they contacted us so he could come live out his life with donkeys. After all, he hadn’t been with donkeys since he was removed from the wild by the BLM as a yearling 34 years ago.
     
     After many calls, we had a vet evaluate Nestor three days later. The vet told us that Nestor had been used for roping practice. We had never heard of that, so he explained to us that those training for the rodeo will lasso donkeys back feet because donkeys are so smart that they try to get out of it which makes the training more developmental for roper. We were also informed that he was most likely used to train calves on how to be roped. People tie a rope with a calf at one end around the donkey's neck to teach the calf how to get used to being roped. The reason donkeys are used for this is because, as thinkers, they just stand there trying to figure out what is going on, which helps train the calf quicker. This type of treatment is why Nestor’s ears lay down so much. The vet also informed us that he had severe laminitis and called our attention to the large cyst on his sheath, which we had noticed when we met Nestor.
     
     And now for the good news…
     
     The vet advised us that despite his cyst, overexposed fly strike, anemia, and severe laminitis, Nestor was a strong and healthy donkey, which is amazing for a 35-year-old who has endured so much. Perhaps it’s the love he received all of those years ago from the kids, grandkids, and eventually grandkids. Nestor’s situation is such a paradox to us because he was loved like a family member and yet was put in so many uncomfortable and physically challenging situations. It’s hard for us to reconcile, but we believe the love he received from his family is what makes him such a lovable donkey now. You would think that after all of that rodeo training, he would not like humans, but he does. He adores humans, and humans adore him. However, as he has gotten healthier with us, we are starting to discover some of his rodeo training triggers, especially when it comes to being tied for vet care.
     
     Speaking of getting healthier and stronger, we have been in awe of his physical and emotional improvements since he arrived. His first couple of days with us were a little rough because he could barely walk due to a bad hoof trim before we picked him up; he required so much medical attention to treat his fly strike and cyst and living in a new place after having the same home for 34 years. Co-founders Edj and Amber spent a couple of hours loving on him every evening, and multiple sponsors visited him daily. Additionally, we put him on a restorative supplemental protocol, which included the following supplements: red cell for anemia, senior support, herbal pain relief, better hoof, joint support, cicru-flow, and mineral powder. We also consulted our farrier mentor, who called immediately after seeing his hoof photos and suggested we make him moon boots out of exercise mat material to give him some cushion and pain relief on his front hooves.
     
     As a result, Nestor appeared to improve physically and emotionally each day. When he first arrived, we weren’t sure he would have a quality of life worth living and he sure has shown us otherwise. He walks all around his enclosure and out in the community area; he stands over the diva donkeys (Shelley, Winnie, and Cookie) and next to Swazye while they nap—Edgar and Winky don’t even get to do this because the girls shoo them away. He calls for love and cuddles anytime he sees a human. If you haven’t met Nestor yet, we encourage you to come meet him.
     
     Edj and Amber have worked with hundreds of donkeys and have never experienced a donkey like Nestor before. There is just something about him that makes you feel so calm and warm and fuzzy inside.
     
     CHURRO
     
     In early December we picked up Churro, a BLM donkey, from the Lazy B Equine Rescue in Layton, UT. Lazy B rescued Churro at an auction in Utah where he was being bid on by kill buyers. The founders of Lazy B bid against the kill buyer until they eventually won the bid, paying $375 for a donkey that typically goes for $100 at auction. However, there was something about Churro that made them want to rescue him. He was their 206th equine rescue and their first donkey ever.
     
     After bringing Churro to their rescue, it was clear that Churro had a lot of trauma and deserved to live at a donkey sanctuary where he could be with other donkeys who were also from the wild, so they contacted us. They sent videos of Churro and his interactions with them, and it was clear to the Co-Founders that he was to come to Donkey Dreams to heal and live the rest of his life in a donkey family with access to human cuddles if he chose. Upon Churro’s arrival, we created a custom herbal protocol for his physical symptoms, including joint support, herbal butte, better hoof care, senior support, and mineral powder. For the first week, he ate, slept, and scratched on the creosote in his enclosure. He welcomed human cuddles, but you could tell he was exhausted and just needed to decompress before he engaged with other donkeys. He eventually joined our senior and special needs herd where he quickly made friends and plays multiple times a day with one of our other BLM geldings. Churro arrived incredibly stiff and with a walk that presented as stringhalt syndrome. However, with his herbal support and daily play, he is walking normally again. He has quickly become a favorite for human cuddles because he asks for them so much and really seems to enjoy them. It’s amazing to think how much he has healed in the three months he’s been part of our family.
     
     4 MOM/BABY PAIRS - TEXAS AUCTION RESCUE
     
     Shortly after getting Churro settled, we headed to Texas to pick up four babies and their moms, who we rescued from the Texas auction that has the USDA permits to ship donkeys across the border for slaughter. As of now, we transport all of our donkeys ourselves to ensure the best travel experience for our new family members so we drove the 20+ hours to pick them up and turned around and brought them home. While this was a long trip for our new donkey family, the alternative, a 20+ hour drive across the border to Texas to a slaughterhouse, made the trip worth it for all of us. These 8 donkeys were the last donkey family to join Donkey Dreams in 2023. Their story really picks up in early 2024, so we will tell it next year.
     
     SANCTUARY EXPANSION PLAN
     
     As our donkey family began to grow this year, we realized we wanted to provide more space for our growing family, so the Co-Founders came up with a plan to dedicate as much of their land to donkeys as possible. They also set out to acquire neighboring land, which they were able to do. At the end of December, the co-founders closed on the 2.5-acre neighboring lot that they have donated the use of to Donkey Dreams like the other 7+ acres they donate to Donkey Dreams.
     
     In the first part of 2023, we created a community donkey area, expanded many of the existing enclosures, and fenced in land on the ranch so it could be used for the donkeys. The only land not available to the donkeys is the driveway and the land the owner's house sits on, which is less than .5 acres. Additionally, we installed four new shelters, replaced gates, fixed fencing, and created additional access points to make it easier for the donkeys to navigate around the sanctuary.
     
     The acquisition of the new land has allowed us to re-design portions of our 10-acre property to add more parking, a second community donkey area, and more room for our donkeys to roam and explore. This re-design comes with tens of thousands of expenses in fencing, gates, shaders and infrastructure. Therefore, we will be working with our grant writer to apply for grants to fund each portion of the re-design. Fortunately, the re-design also includes enclosing the entire property with panel fencing, which provides a more distinct safety barrier for the public who drives by and approaches our donkeys at our fence line.
     
     DONKEY CARE PROGRAMS
     
     As we mentioned in our 2023 introduction, we made a significant shift from foster care protocols to sanctuary care protocols in 2023. This was a huge learning curve for us in what kind of care we wanted to offer, what was financially feasible, and what labor resources we had available to implement the care. We divided our donkey care plan into two major categories: Physical Well Being and Social Well Being. 2023 was also a big year for ranch operations.
     
     Physical Well Being
     
     We implemented a new and improved feed and care system for our donkeys, which is already proving to have a positive impact on their health and well-being. Most of our donkeys have lost at least 10-20% of their body weight, helping them arrive at a healthier weight. Some of the severely overweight donkeys we rescued are not only losing weight but are also experiencing a size reduction in their hay bellies and fatty pockets, which has the potential to improve their long-term health.
     
     
     We also implemented multiple fly management techniques. Fly management is so important for our donkeys not only because the flies annoy them but because the flies create sores on their bodies which can expose the donkeys to infection and disease. Since we inherited a 14-year fly infestation at the ranch we purchased for the sanctuary, reducing the fly reproductive cycle has been incredibly costly and labor-intensive. We spend 4 hours each day on fly management alone–from moving and baiting traps based on evolving fly behavior to starting and nurturing fly larvae predator colonies. These extra steps are in addition to us removing the manure and old hay from the entire ranch daily and taking it off property to a local farm every 3-4 days so we beat the nesting and hatching cycle.
     
     One of our areas of expertise is observing the donkeys physically and emotionally. Shortly after adopting the donkeys that were part of the rescue at the ranch we purchased, we noticed that many of them were not displaying optimal health. Some of them had existing conditions with existing medical treatments that didn’t seem to be improving their quality of life. So, we started to test new treatment protocols and saw an incredible improvement in their physical wellness, which also positively impacted their emotional wellness. For example, there was a donkey with a severe swayback named Swayze, who just stood in the back of her enclosure all of the time. We introduced some herbal pain relief, joint relief, senior supplements, and better hoof supplements into her daily routine. Now, Swayze is prancing around, playing with some of the other donkeys in her herd. The success we experienced with Swayze and a couple of other donkeys inspired us to develop care programs for some of the other physically compromised donkeys. Now, we have 16 donkeys on a custom treatment protocol, all of which have displayed physical improvements in their body presentation, mobility, and socialization.
     
     Many of the donkeys that we adopted from the previous ranch owner’s rescue were overweight with the presentation of fatty pockets and crested necks. We tested a number of them for insulin resistance and Cushings and placed them on protocols to help them stabilize their insulin and reduce their Cushings symptoms.
     
     For all of our donkeys, we replaced all mineral blocks, mineral buckets, and salt blocks, which came with the ranch, with loose mineral salt and loose California Trace minerals powder. Not only did the donkeys love salt and minerals, but within months, we noticed an improvement in our donkeys’ coats and hooves.
     
     We created a quarantine enclosure for incoming donkeys or donkeys that are or may be sick.
     
     In our area, access to donkey farriers and donkey vets is incredibly limited, inconsistent, and at times non-existent. Therefore, our co-founders decided to go to Farrier School, where they not only learned hoof care but all about physical donkey care as well, which significantly impacts hoof health. With nearly a dozen donkeys requiring corrective care, having the ability to trim donkeys based on their hooves needs, which for some is as frequently as 1-2 weeks, has been instrumental in their hoof and overall physical health. Another benefit to having the co-founders trim the donkeys is for the mental health of each donkey. Since the co-founders spend hours each day with the donkeys, offering only positive human/donkey interactions, the donkeys deeply trust the co-founders. Therefore, when it is time to trim them, many of them just stand there halterless and most of them do not even need to be tied if they do require a halter. This type of trimming allows us to maintain our mission of respecting each donkey’s sovereignty. Something that is crucial to our culture and guides all of our decisions and daily interactions with the donkeys. In 2023, the co-founders decided not to charge Donkey Dreams for the thousands of dollars in trimming costs incurred for the co-founders trimming the Donkey Dreams donkeys.
     
     Social Well Being
     
     Our number one guiding principle at Donkey Dreams is respecting each of our donkey’s sovereignty. With all of our donkeys coming to us with a storied past where they didn’t get to choose their destiny, restoring their sovereignty is incredibly important to us and for them as well. We focus on restoring their sovereignty by offering choices and freedom in two major areas: who they socialize with in their donkey world and how they interact with humans.
     
     Since we adopted the majority of our donkeys from the rescue we used to work at, we were able to adopt donkeys that already were in a donkey family, so it was pretty easy to honor their sovereignty with other donkeys. The more challenging donkeys were the donkeys who were already on the property from the previous rescue. Many, if not all, of the donkeys were socially withdrawn and hesitant to form deep relationships with other donkeys. This is most likely because many of them saw their donkey friends get adopted while they remained at the previous rescue.
     
     So, we made it our mission to get to know each donkey, observe the interactions they had with the other donkeys in their enclosure, and then begin to trial donkey interactions with other donkeys at the sanctuary. After months of doing this, we ultimately ended up with four distinct herds, or, as we say, donkey families. In this process, we observed how each of the donkeys in a herd responded to each other: Was it harmonious and collaborative or just existing? We observed if the newly introduced donkeys eventually integrated into the herd or if they remained isolated. We observed overall engagement levels with each other and humans as a reflection of their comfort and joy in their new social surroundings. We watched for communication between different herds, indicating that a donkey was being missed or missing their previous herd. All of these factors - and many more - influenced which donkey family each ultimately ended up in. We are happy to say that as we closed 2023, each of our four donkey herds presented significant harmony, collaboration, and a sense of family.
     
     Another way we honor our donkeys’ sovereignty is in how they interact with humans. We have a kind and compassionate sponsorship community that not only provides financial care for the donkeys but also comes and spends time with them. Our co-founders interview sponsors to make sure they are culturally a good fit for our donkeys. All sponsors are provided a donkey safety talk, are trained on how to approach and interact with a donkey, and are instructed to not bother a donkey while they are eating, sleeping, or not interested in interacting. The co-founders accompany all sponsors during their visits until the sponsors display a full understanding of how to interact with and respect our donkeys’ sovereignty. As a result of our sponsorship program, our donkeys receive daily hours of cuddles, brushes, massages, talking, songs, and other expressions of love. Sponsors visit the donkeys in their spacious enclosures or in the community donkey areas, where the donkeys always have access to food, water, and mental stimulation. The donkeys are always in a position to walk away from a human if they are not interested in engaging. Oftentimes, the donkeys approach the sponsors knowing good things are about to happen and recognizing the deep relationships they have formed with each of the sponsors.
     
     A big part of our social well-being program in 2023 was mental stimulation development. First, we designed feeders for communal eating so the donkey families could eat nuzzled up with each other. The new feeders also allowed us to conserve hay usage. Next, we re-designed some of the enclosures to improve social interaction across herds. Then, we developed scratching stations all over the sanctuary. We created grazing stations throughout the sanctuary so the donkeys could graze as they roam the sanctuary. The herds are released from their enclosures during different times of the day so they can roam and access the grazing stations that are primarily hanging feed bags from the trees on the property. We created and improved hills in the enclosures to provide the donkeys with vertical plateaus for seeing beyond their enclosures. One of our engineer sponsors designed dozens of different toys and even created chimes for the donkeys to play when they use a scratching post. We installed a whirligig feeder that moves like a seesaw, so the donkeys have to figure out how to cooperate to gain access to the feedbag hanging from the whirligig feeder.
     
     FUNDRAISING, GRANTS, AND DONATIONS
     
     Although our sanctuary itself has only been in operation since 2022, our nonprofit was established in 2016 and has a history of responsible financial management. Knowing donkeys can live up to 50 years, the sustainability of Donkey Dreams is a major priority. This year, we worked to curate a variety of income streams so that our current and future programs will stand the test of time. In one realm, we implemented a sustained grant strategy, which continues to this day. During 2023, we were awarded two major grants: $10,000 from Kentucky Fried Chicken and $13,300 from the Arizona Community Foundation. Both grants were allocated for emergency response infrastructure, such as backup water tanks. In another realm, we have established - and have already grown - a substantial sponsorship program with three different levels: Silver, Gold, and Platinum. This program currently has 52 sponsors representing $2300 in monthly income that is designated specifically to donkey care. Our sponsors are incredibly passionate and supportive, and the number is consistently growing. In addition to grants and sponsorships, we also have general donations and merchandise sales to add more diversity to our income streams.
     
     DONKEY OUTREACH
     
     As a result of us sharing daily donkey happenings at the sanctuary on social media, in 2023, we received a number of inquiries from individual donkey owners and rescues about donkeys: how to care for them, how to earn their trust, how to socialize them with other donkeys, etc. Therefore, we created some informational tools to share with inquiring individuals or organizations, including donkey care best practices, caring for moms and babies, and a donkey adoption/rehoming tool kit. While we do not rehome any of our donkeys, we have extensive experience in training and rehoming donkeys, so we know how valuable the rehoming process is for the well-being of donkeys. Through these efforts, we hope that every person who has a donkey, rescues a donkey, or cares for a donkey better understands donkeys and hopefully falls so in love with donkeys that they do everything they can to prevent donkeys from ending up sick, in neglect, and/or in the auction pipeline. As a sanctuary, we are limited in the number of donkeys we can offer homes to here at Donkey Dreams, but our ability to positively impact donkeys worldwide through education and information is limitless and a deep passion of ours.
     
     What a year 2023 was for Donkey Dreams! We ended the year with 44 donkeys, a new and improved donkey care program, a kind and compassionate donkey sponsorship community, and 2.5 neighboring acres to expand the sanctuary to give our donkeys more room to roam, graze, and play. Seeing what we have all created in our first full year as a donkey family is amazing.
     
     While 2023 was all about growing and improving our care for our donkey family, 2024 is about evolving our donkey care, increasing our financial resources, enhancing our infrastructure, and connecting with more humans to support our 2023 family growth.
     
     EVOLVING OUR DONKEY CARE
     
     We continue to monitor the physical and emotional well-being of each donkey and plan to further engage our donkey sponsor community to monitor and provide insight into any changes. We have recently implemented a new motto, “See something, bray something.” This will allow us to continue the diligent level of care and awareness we have established as our donkey family grows. This also increases the depth of the relationship between our sponsors and donkeys as we encourage them to determine the specific needs of the donkeys during their visit, i.e., do they want to be touched, brushed, or massaged, or do they prefer that someone just sits quietly with them? We ask them to pay attention to their moods as often a donkey’s mood can be an early sign of emotional or physical development.
     
     As we deepen our understanding of our special needs donkeys that we adopted from the previous rescue here at the ranch, we also deepen our search for solutions to improve their quality of life. For example, we have a donkey named Shelley who has a leg defect where her front left leg keeps growing. She has been at the rescue for over 10 years, and her leg has grown at least 6 inches since she was brought in from the wild. This means that her leg is growing so long that she is almost at the point where she can’t use it anymore. While walking has become increasingly difficult for her, her overall health has improved with the custom well-being protocols we have provided her over the past year. Therefore, we sought out a way to help her walk better, which resulted in ordering her a custom brace that was formed from a cast of her entire leg and videos of her gait. This $1300+ brace arrived a couple of weeks ago, and we have been helping her learn to walk with it by adding 30 minutes of brace time each day. Being the smart and adaptable jenny that she is, she has quickly picked up on how to integrate the brace into her life.
     
     We have a very pregnant jenny, Luna, who came in the 3 mom/baby pairs we adopted from the Texas auction in August 2023. While she came in with a foal, she had already been exposed to a jack prior to going to auction, so we were expecting her to deliver baby Moon soon. While she is part of a donkey family of two other mom/baby pairs, upon her new baby’s arrival, she and the new baby will have time to bond in the nursery enclosure we created for her inside her donkey family’s enclosure so the rest of her donkey family can visit her and baby moon through the panels. Once Baby Moon is old enough and we have fenced in the 2.5 acres and installed adequate shelter, we will integrate all 14 (soon to be 15 with Baby Moon) Texas auction donkeys into one donkey family in their own 2.5-acre enclosure. Making sure the integration goes smoothly will be a big focus for us.
     
     In year two of trimming our own donkey hooves, which is 176 hooves, we will continue to improve our system for trimming their hooves and increase their trust in the trimming process–something we have seen evolve in each donkey. At least half the donkeys we trim halter-less now, used to need a halter when we first started trimming them. This is evidence that they are learning to trust us and our trimming approach enough to stand still on their own. Our consistent and frequent trimming program allows us to monitor and correct any hoof/leg issues before they develop into a medical situation, which is better for the donkey and fiscally responsible.
     
     GROWING OUR FINANCIAL RESOURCES
     
     With the addition of 19 donkeys and the deepening of our donkey care program in 2023, we have significantly increased our need for financial support. In anticipation of this, we have calculated a custom cost for each donkey which will allow us to target our fundraising efforts, which will include specific fundraisers for items like Shelley’s leg brace to profile specific donkeys with high care costs for doney sponsorship. Our goal is to increase our sponsorship by two sponsors a month, which will land us at 74 sponsors by the end of 2024.
     
     We have also expanded our grant writing strategy to procure more grant resources for donkey care expenses.
     
     Lastly, the authenticity and emotional connection of our social media content has been well received by donkey lovers so we hope to create a value-added subscription content channel on Patreon or a similar provider to spread more donkey love and joy while generating income for the donkeys’ care.
     
     IMPROVING OUR INFRASTRUCTURE
     
     The fencing of our ranch is over 15 years old. While it is sufficient for our donkeys at this point, it is not ideal long term. Therefore, our number one infrastructure focus in 2024 is the ranch re-design, which includes fencing in the newly acquired 2.5-acre lot, replacing all of the perimeter fencing of the remaining 7.5 acres, installing improved gate systems and shelters, and creating a safer fencing system internally and externally to protect the donkeys from the general public. Additionally, since we employ a low-stress approach to moving and loading donkeys for vet visits, the redesign will allow us to improve our transport loading zones in strategic places around the sanctuary. Lastly, our larger donkey family has qualified us for larger, more cost-efficient hay deliveries, which also require some strategic re-purpose of the sanctuary that protects the hay from the elements and roaming donkeys.
     
     In early 2024, we started a collaboration with a local farm to provide them all of our donkey manure which is picked up from the entire sanctuary daily and taken to the farm twice a week to prevent any fly breeding. Our manure removal cost last year was over $2600, so we are hoping to reduce this by half while supporting a local farm (and the earth) with our fertile donkey doo. The co-founders recently purchased a truck (and are donating the use of the truck) to pull the dump trailer that is on loan from the nearby rescue, but in order to maintain this program, we will need funds to purchase a 5 ton-dump trailer.
     
     We continue to look for ways to make the sanctuary better for the donkeys and for humans to connect with the donkeys, so we plan to create more specific spaces for people to sit, relax, and meditate with the donkeys. For example, we recently received a donation of a "Remembrance Bench" in honor of a loved one who passed away. The donkeys are learning that humans sit quietly on this bench and so they now gravitate to it to be peaceful next to the humans.
     
     CONNECTING WITH HUMANS
     
     Some of the most rewarding experiences here at Donkey Dreams are seeing humans connect with donkeys and the donkeys connect with humans through our donkey sponsorship programs. Since everything here is 100% donkeys first, it was important for us to establish a high level of care for the donkeys in 2023 before we began to explore additional human-donkey interactions, like equine-assisted therapy opportunities. In 2024, we are excited to explore opportunities for equine-assisted therapy with Military Veterans and the local Dansville Adult Center. Witnessing the power of healing between humans and donkeys over the past 18 months has us optimistic about facilitating donkey/human interactions that are mutually beneficial. Since we are incredibly protective of our donkey's emotional well being and nervous systems, we will only add human/donkey interactions that are aligned with the needs of the donkeys because everything we do here is donkey first.
     
     One of the criteria for the donkey content we share through social media and email is to portray donkeys as individual creatures who have emotions, relationships, and physical needs–not just livestock or a piece of property. We are hyper-focused on establishing the dignity of donkeys in our culture. In 2024, we will continue to expand our donkey perception outreach as well as create additional tools and channels to help people who interact, care for, rescue or own donkeys to see them for the emotionally intelligent creatures that they are. Therefore, we will continue to expand and refine the information and resources we share with people who have any sort of influence on a donkey's well-being.
     
     We will also be launching our YouTube channel, which will allow us to improve the perception of donkeys and expand the awareness of our sanctuary and the work we do here. The YouTube channel will be divided into playlists that include:
     
     1. Donkeys and peaceful music - help people calm themselves with engaging but relaxing visuals. We are working with a professional cinematic drone photographer for footage. He is donating his time.
     Donkey Shenanigans: "Shorts" (short 1-min videos) of donkeys playing and having fun
     2. Donkey Love: Sharing the heart-touching moments that we experience at the sanctuary
     3. Donkey Girls: Our co-founder Amber and a friend of hers from her previous donkey rescue life will be discussing donkey facts, behaviors, and personalities, all with the goal of getting viewers, rescues, and new donkey owners to understand their long ear buddies better
     
     In addition to educating and creating awareness, we hope the YouTube channel drives donations to the Sanctuary.

Equine Transition Services:
Overview of our programs involved with rescue, rehabilitation, retraining, re-homing and/or retirement:
     Located in Scenic, Arizona, Donkey Dreams Sanctuary provides rescue donkeys of all ages, sizes, and needs a forever home so they feel seen, cherished, and loved for the rest of their lives. Our sanctuary also offers human and donkey experiences to facilitate an exchange of love, joy, and peace, and to positively impact our community.
     
     At Donkey Dreams Sanctuary, our rescued donkeys bring with them a wide variety of stories. Some are domestic donkeys kept as pets or working animals whose owners are no longer willing or able to care for them. Others are wild donkeys displaced from their homes during roundups facilitated by the Bureau of Land Management, National Parks, Military Bases, and the US Fish and Wildlife Department. After a roundup, these donkeys are at risk of slaughter if they do not find homes with individual adopters or rescue organizations. Additionally, when the donkeys are removed from their homes, their herds are broken apart. Donkey Dreams aims to provide donkeys rounded up with their herd-mates a home by adopting their entire donkey family; this is something most individual adopters or rescues are not in the position to do. For these incredibly social animals, losing family members can lead to depression and, ultimately death. So, keeping social relationships intact is vital to the well-being of the donkeys removed from their homes.
     
     For our donkeys, we offer a forever home aligned with the lifestyle that donkeys are accustomed to, such as having expansive, open spaces to roam for our burros, who are accustomed to roaming and grazing freely. Donkey Dreams is unique in that we work hard to keep donkey families and bonded donkeys together.

Research/Medical Use of Equines:
Our organization has never made, and would not ever consider making, equines available for research studies or medical training that involves invasive procedures and/or that which may cause pain or suffering to the equine. 

Religious Affiliation:
Our organization does not promote religious education, religious purposes, or a specific religious faith or use donations for religious education or religious purposes; require participants to be of a certain faith; require participation in religious, instruction, activities or services; or require participation in prayer, worship, religious instruction or other religious activities as a condition of receiving social or secular services offered. 

Auction Donation:
Our organization has never allowed, or would not consider allowing, an equine to be sold, transferred, released, or otherwise placed into possession of any person or organization that would cause or allow the equine to be sold at auction for slaughter. 

POLICIES: ACQUISITION

Our organization acquires horses/equines from the following source(s):
    Auction  
    Surrender  

Our organization does not acquire horses/equines from the following source(s):
    Donation  
    Lease  
    Purchase from Owner  
    Kill pen/Feedlot  
    Return  
    Seizure  
    Abandonment  

Our organization will accept the following:
    Geldings
    Mares
    Pregnant Mares
    Foals
    Stallions
    Only Stallions to be castrated

Additional information about our acquisition policies and practices:
Since we are 100% a sanctuary, which means we do not re-home, every decision to welcome a donkey to the Donkey Dreams family is vetted through our evaluation protocol. The criteria for a donkey living at Donkey Dreams is as follows:
     
     Here at Donkey Dreams, we build herds of donkeys to emulate their natural lifestyles. Any donkey we are considering has to fit into the culture of Donkey Dreams. Our donkeys display behaviors that tell us they like being part of a donkey family. Therefore, any donkey we add must be able to get along with other donkeys and be part of a herd. The donkey has to fit into one of our four herds. If it is a donkey family, then we are willing to give them their own herd as long as we have space for them.
     
     We have to have the physical space that they are accustomed to when living in the wild. As a sanctuary, we are not willing to overcrowd the donkeys. We have to have the ability to physically care for them to ensure they never fall into neglect.

POLICIES: INTAKE, ASSESSMENT & TRAININING

Prior to a horse being accepted and/or arriving at the facility, the organization requires the following with respect to the health status of the horse:
    A current Coggins
    Vaccination records that have been administered within the last 12 months
    If health records are not available or are out-of-date, the owner is responsible for having vaccinations administered.
    If health records are not available or are out-of-date, our veterinarian will administer appropriate vaccinations
    A health certificate signed by a veterinarian and dated no more than seven days prior to arrival is provided to our organization either prior to or upon arrival of the equine attesting to the health status of the equine

Prior to a horse being accepted and/or arriving at the facility, the organization has the following policies in place:
    The owner of a potential equine is interviewed over the phone or in person prior to seeing the equine
    The equine is evaluated at its place of residence

Following arrival of the equine at the facility, the following is performed:
    Physical examination by a veterinarian upon arrival
    Photographs are taken of each equine upon arrival at the facility and kept with the equine's health records
    Physical examination by a farrier
    Coggins test
    Blood work other than Coggins
    Vaccinations
    De-worming

Upon intake, the organization has the following quarantine policy in place:
    The equine is confined to a designated and separate area for isolation and quarantine at the facility for a prescribed period of time
    The equine is confined to a designated and separate area for isolation and quarantine off-site for a prescribed period of time

The typical length of quarantine is:   20 to 30 days

Horses are assessed for following skills and behaviors:
    Retrieval from a pasture/paddock
    Temperament, disposition and attitude, such as rated from very calm to very high spirited
    Tolerance to unusual objects and loud noises
    Known vices, i.e., cribbing, biting, kicking, weaving, stall walking, etc

Our organization has the following policies and procedures in place pertaining to the ongoing assessment of horses in its care:
    Photographs are taken of each equine monthly and kept with the equine's health records
Our organization has the following policies and procedures in place pertaining to the weight-carrying or workload capabilities of horses/equines that are ridden in our care:
    No equines are ridden; not applicable

The following variables are considered in determining the weight-carrying and workload limitations for each equine that is ridden:
    No equines are ridden; not applicable


Horses provided formal training (groundwork or riding):   Not applicable; our horses are all retired

Additional information about our intake, assessment & training policies and practices:
The intake process is based on two factors: (1) quarantine and health evaluation prior to arrival, and (2) quarantine and health evaluation upon arrival.
     
     All donkeys who join Donkey Dreams must be up to date on their vaccinations and deworming. All donkeys must have been in quarantine off-site or on-site. When possible, we have vet health evaluations and full blood panels completed prior to their arrival. If not, then after their arrival. If there is any indication of discomfort and sickness, they are evaluated by a vet.
     
     Additionally, upon arrival, all donkeys are photographed, and health is monitored and documented monthly.

POLICIES: BREEDING

The organization has the following policies related to breeding and stallions:
    Our main facility where our organization conducts its programs does NOT breed equines.

POLICIES: EUTHANASIA

The organization has the following policies related to euthanasia:
    Our organization will never have an equine euthanized for space
    Our organization will have an equine euthanized upon the recommendation of the veterinarian if the equine is a threat to itself, other equines, or people
    Our organization will have an equine euthanized upon the recommendation of the veterinarian after all reasonable treatment options have been explored

The following are authorized to administer the procedure for your organization in accordance with state laws:
    Veterinarian
    A certified euthanasia technician
    Senior staff with appropriate training
    Employee of animal control shelter or humane society with appropriate training

Additional information about our euthanasia policies and practices:
Fortunately, we have not had to euthanize any of our donkeys. However, in the situation where it is necessary so that the donkey doesn't suffer from current or future inhumane pain, we will euthanize the donkey in the way we do everything here: with love and kindness. We will also be sure to let the donkey’s herd mates have time to grieve the loss of their donkey friend and/or family member by allowing the euthanized donkey’s body to remain in the presence of the donkey’s herd mates for at least 45 minutes. Additionally, we will monitor the euthanized donkey’s herd mates closely to make sure they are eating and drinking so as not to fall into hyperlipidemia, a fatal condition caused by a sudden withdrawal of eating and drinking, often initiated by loss or grief in donkeys.

POLICIES: RE-HOMING

Re-homing Agreement not applicable.
Our organization has the following re-homing (adoption/purchase) policies and procedures in place:
    The organization does not re-home equines under any circumstances; our organization retains custody of our equines and ensures care of the equines for their lifetimes.

Our organization has the following policies and procedures related to horses that need to be retired, are no longer able to contribute to the mission of the organization, and/or are no longer manageable:
    The organization does not re-home equines under any circumstances; our organization retains custody of our equines and ensures care of the equines for their lifetimes.

Additional information about our rehoming policies and practices:
Donkey Dreams Sanctuary was created to provide exactly what our name indicates: a dream sanctuary for donkeys. Our seniors and special needs donkeys have exactly what they need, including customized diets, medical treatment, and appropriate housing to accommodate their needs and age. For our donkeys who were removed from their homes and families in the wild, we provide them and their remaining family members/herd mates large spaces to roam and explore and the security that they will remain together as a herd for the rest of their lives—something very important to donkeys. For our mom and baby pairs rescued from slaughter auction, we provide them the peace of mind that they are no longer in the donkey breeding system, that they will not have their babies taken away from them, and that they can roam and explore as a donkey family. For all of our donkeys, we promise them that no matter the trauma they have experienced prior to coming to Donkey Dreams, they can heal here, and that all of their interactions with humans and other donkeys will be positive. For all of the above reasons, we do not re-home because the donkeys who come to Donkey Dreams deserve a safe and loving environment to live and grow old together.

EQUINE CARE & SHELTER/FACILITY INFORMATION

Total facilities at which our organization cares for and shelters horses used in our programs: 1
Our organization does not CURRENTLY use satellite, overflow, foster, and/or outreach facilities.

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Donkey Dreams Sanctuary
4343 Amber Ln LITTLEFIELD AZ 86432
Contact: Amber Raleigh
Contact's Phone: 928-235-5978
Contact's Email: amber@donkeydreams.org
Currently operational
Total number of horses/equines currently involved with your programs, under your care, and/or owned by your organization at this facility: 36
Total number of horses at this facility INCLUDING those counted above: 36
Maximum capacity of horses at this facility: 50

Does your organization own, lease or use a part of this facility? Use

Provide the contact information for the individual or organization responsible for investigating abuse in the county where the facility is located, including mailing address, email address, and phone information.
     Mark Cobb, Animal Control, Mohave County. 928-753-0753 600 W Beale St, Kingman, AZ 86401 No email address available. You have to submit an inquiry on the website, https://mohavecountyaz.mycusthelp.com/WEBAPP/_rs/(S(mufkq4butrir5nwdt2fdirbg))/RequestSelect.aspx?sSessionID=

Does your organization conduct Equine Assisted Services (EAS) at this facility in accordance with the EQUUS Foundation Guidelines on Qualifications of Organizations Conducting Equine Assisted Services (EAS)? No

Additional information about this facility:
A number of our equines are adopted/transferred to us from Peaceful Valley Donkey Rescue, based in Texas, but the rescues from from their Western Division in Scenic, Arizona.

Since our intent is to provide our donkeys with a lifestyle they are most accustomed to, each donkey is a member of one of our four herds. This means they all live together in one of our four areas that is designed to provide them space for roaming, running, and playing. Additionally, we have a community donkey area that the herds get to access daily so they get the stimulation and physical exercise donkeys so much need as a result of their natural lifestyle. Therefore, we have four main living spaces, a community donkey area, and three smaller areas for donkeys to eat their special diets or quarantine upon arrival or if they get sick.

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Donkey Dreams Sanctuary

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Veterinarian Information
Veterinarian: Dr. Cayla Moore
Clinic Name: Moore Equine Veterinary Services
175 W Sunset Ave
Toquerville   UT   84774
Phone: 435-429-5254

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Overview: Donkey Dreams Sanctuary (*Main)
Total number of horses/equines currently involved with your programs, under your care, and/or owned by your organization at this facility: 36
Total number of horses at this facility INCLUDING those counted above: 36
Maximum capacity of horses at this facility: 50
Total acreage dedicated specifically to the horses: 7.5

Our organization has use of the following at this facility:
Structures/Barns: 0  Run-in sheds: 10
Pastures: 0  Paddocks/Pens/Turnout Areas: 7
Uncovered Outdoor Rings: 0  Covered Outdoor Rings: 0  Indoor Rings: 0














How many hours per day, on average, are horses turned out:
    Equines are out 24/7

The following describes the pastures at this facility:
    This facility does not have pastures where equines can graze on pasture grass

The following describes the turnout areas other than pastures at this facility:
    This facility has a written plan in place for the maintenance of turnout areas, which includes a schedule for cleaning, manure removal, and dragging
    A dedicated staff person(s) is responsible for the maintenance of turnout areas
    All turnout areas are fenced to prevent escape or injury
    Turnout areas have man-made protection for equines (i.e., shelters)
    Fencing checks, such as broken or missing planks, loose fence posts, exposed or loose nails, detached wires, etc., are done regularly

The following policies and procedures are in place at the facility to restrict public access and to keep horses safe:
    The property owner, staff member or caretaker lives on the premises and ensures that public access is restricted and is responsible for the security of the facility and equines
    No Trespassing signs are posted
    Entrance gates are locked at night
    Visitors are only permitted at specific times
    Visitors are only permitted in specific areas
    The property is fitted with a security system that is monitored internally by staff (or the property owner)
    The perimeter of the property is fully fenced

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Equine Care/Emergency Preparedness: Donkey Dreams Sanctuary (*Main) 2024 and 2023 This section is required.

Horse Health Care/Barn Management Records: What system is used to collect and store health/horse care records?
    Onsite computer with cloud-based backup storage system
    The organization utilizes its own system to maintain records

The following items are consistent with our feed management plan and practices:
    Equines are provided with individualized feeding plans, including supplements, according to age and any health issues
    Feed plans are determined in consultation with a veterinarian
    Supplement plans are determined in consultation with a veterinarian
    Equines are fed in individual stalls
    Equines are fed in groups
    Staff and volunteers are trained in proper feed measurements and protocols and observed periodically to ensure they are feeding correctly
    The feed chart is centrally located and updated as needed
    The area(s) where hay, feed, grain, and supplements are stored are kept clean, free of debris and chemicals, and protected from weather and other animals in rodent-proof and mold-proof containers and grain bins
    Feed, supplements and hay types are clearly labeled
    Water sources, i.e., buckets, troughs, automatic waterers, etc. are kept clean, free of debris and chemicals, and protected from weather and other animals
    Medications are kept in a locked, climate-controlled area

Do horses have access to clean drinking water at all times?     Yes    

Hoof Care: How often is hoof care provided for each equine? Every 4-8 weeks and when an issue arises

Dental Care: How often is dental care provided for each equine? Only when an issue arises

Horse checks: How often are equines visually and physically checked by personnel at the facility? Every 2 or 3 days


Parasite Control: Our organization has the following worming protocols in place: (Check all that apply
    A de-wormer is used without fecal testing

Fly/Insect Control: What remedies are used to control flies and insects?
    Fly parasites
    Fly Traps and Tapes
    Premise Sprays/Insecticides
    Fly Masks

The following represent the biosecurity practices in place at facility:
    Our organization follows the AAEP's Biosecurity Guidelines and/or the UC Davis Biosecurity Guidelines
    Sick, affected and/or quarantined equines do not have contact with other equines or other animals
    A specific individual is assigned to care for sick, affected and/or quarantined equines
    Sick, affected and/or quarantined equines are cared for last if the caretaker must also care for healthy equines
    Hand sanitizers and footbaths are available at all primary points of access to sick, affected and/or quarantined equines
    Manure and bedding from sick, affected and/or quarantined equines is disposed of in specific areas designated for infectious materials - not put in open air piles, and not spread on pastures
    Stalls, aisle ways, and common areas are disinfected after conclusion of the quarantine
    Trailers/vans used by sick, affected and/or quarantined equines are cleaned and disinfected after each use and cleaning takes place away from where equines are sheltered
    Equipment used by sick, affected and/or quarantined equines is not shared and is clearly labeled
    Latex gloves are worn when working with sick, affected and/or quarantined equines

The following represent the manure removal practices in place at facility:
    Manure is stored in dumpster(s)

The following steps are taken to help staff and volunteers readily identify each horse on the property:
    Equine photos and profiles are available on the website

Our organization has the following policies and procedures in place pertaining to tack, apparel and equipment:
    No equines are ridden; not applicable.

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Emergency Preparedness: Donkey Dreams Sanctuary: *Main This section is required.
The following plans, policies, and procedures are in place at the facility to handle emergencies and address weather related issues, fire safety procedures, and/or any additional hazardous scenarios the facility could potentially experience:
    The facility owns or has access to a generator
    The facility maintains at least two weeks of hay, feed, shavings and medications

The facility follows the specific procedures to help PREVENT emergency situations:
    Smoking is strictly prohibited
    Hay is stored away from permanent or temporary structures where equines are stalled
    Permanent or temporary structures where equines are stalled are kept free of dust, cobwebs, trash, cleaning rags, and other flammable items
    Aisles and doorways are kept clear

How often are the following checked or performed?
Fire Extinguishers are checked: Semi-annually
Smoke detectors are checked: Semi-annually
Electrical Systems are checked: Semi-annually
Fence lines are checked: Weekly
Turnout Areas are checked: Daily
Sprinkler systems are checked: Not at all/NA
Fire drills are conducted: Not at all/NA
Review of safety protocols with staff are conducted: Not at all/NA
Review of safety protocols with volunteers are conducted: Not at all/NA
The Emergency Preparedness Plan is reviewed and updated: Not at all/NA

Equine Transportation
2-horse van/trailer with truck:
    0 Owned onsite  0 Access onsite but not owned  0 Access offsite;
3-horse van/trailer with truck:
    0 Owned onsite  0 Access onsite but not owned  0 Access offsite;
4-horse van/trailer with truck:
    0 Owned onsite  0 Access onsite but not owned  1 Access offsite;
6-horse van/trailer with truck:
    0 Owned onsite  0 Access onsite but not owned  0 Access offsite;
8-horse van/trailer with truck:
    1 Owned onsite  0 Access onsite but not owned  0 Access offsite;
10-horse van/trailer with truck:
    0 Owned onsite  0 Access onsite but not owned  2 Access offsite;