Home of the brays

At the Canadian Donkey Sanctuary, a farm for 100 abandoned and rescued animals, ‘the forgotten equine’ is given its due

They also form strong friendships and bonds with each other, grieving when a close partner passes away.

They’ve served humans all over the world for hundreds of years — in wars and in sport, on the farm, as companions and as a major component of families’ incomes.

Yet, a donkey’s efforts often go unrecognized, hence the nickname “the forgotten equine,” says Lesley Bayne. “Horses are majestic, zebras are exotic, but donkeys are often the butt of a joke, the beast of burden or completely forgotten altogether.”

“Donkeys do not stand out, or ‘bling’ in any measurable physical way, compared to some other animals,” says Janine Holman. “They are misunderstood, much maligned, often taken for granted, and not respected as a species.”

A peaceful place just outside of Guelph, with rolling landscapes, diverse habitats and low-profile inhabitants, aims to change that. The Donkey Sanctuary of Canada (DSC) — where Bayne is the executive director — is a 200-acre working farm, consisting of the original 100 acres that founder Sandra Pady and her husband, David, purchased in the 1980s, plus an additional 100 acres that the non-profit organization bought in 2016. It is home to 100 donkeys, who spend their days sunbathing, playing and enjoying walks and grooming time with volunteers.

It’s a great life, and it’s well deserved. “In poorer countries … they work as the equivalent of our family van that we use in our modern cities,” says Holman, a visitor turned volunteer. “Villagers could not survive without their donkey to carry goods to market or bring potable water home.” This type of rudimentary work, she adds, contributes to the perception of donkeys having less value.

“Unfortunately, they seemed to have drawn the short stick in the animal kingdom,” Holman says, adding, “uncountable numbers are overworked and underfed and living a life of toil and misery, (and they’re) often discarded when they’re perceived to be no longer useful.”

Over 29 years, the DSC has taken in more than 350 donkeys — often from SPCA seizures or farms where they had been abandoned. “I could go on and on about the different situations that donkeys have come to us,” says Bayne. “We’re always at capacity.”

Foster farms, where knowledgeable people care for donkeys, free up space for the sanctuary to take on more urgent cases, but if anything happens to the foster or their farm, the donkey can return to the DSC, says Bayne. “We are a true sanctuary in that the animals will belong to us for the rest of their lives.” With proper care and a dash of good genes, a donkey can live an average of 30 years.

Native to the dry deserts of Africa where resources are scarce, donkeys are intelligent and analytical. “(They) will assess a situation before taking action if it seems risky,” Bayne says of a trait many people confuse with stubbornness. They are also stoic and curious, have a peaceful and calm demeanour and are naturally friendly with people, says Holman, who adds, “They also form strong friendships and bonds with each other, grieving when a close partner passes away.”

The misconception that donkeys are stronger and hardier than other animals can result in serious injuries. “A full-grown man on a miniature donkey is too heavy,” says Bayne. “You’ll see some of our donkeys with ‘sway back,’ where their back sways down like a U-shape. Many of these animals end up needing pain medication for the rest of their lives, (which) have been shortened due to the heavy work.”

To correct misinformation, the sanctuary also has a multi-pronged educational program: off-site services aimed at the equine industry and donkey owners; a partnership with the University of Guelph to teach agricultural and animal sciences students about the species; and visiting hours for the public. “Most people don’t have a chance to meet or learn about donkeys in the same way they would with horses, cows, cats, dogs, etc.,” says Bayne.

Although the sanctuary focuses on the immediate needs of the donkeys and increasing its capacity to care for more animals, its longterm goal is to expand its foster farm and education programs. “We’re always thinking of the future of the sanctuary and how we can help more donkeys,” says Bayne. “I want to make sure that donkeys and their owners have a place to turn to in hard times.”