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DECEMBER 2025
BIG JOHN
Big John's Story
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We met Big John in May of 2024 at a Texas auction. Big john is a very large, stocky, tall, all-white donkey. He was castrated so he had a “John” sticker on his butt at the auction, which is how he got his name. He was very nervous and didn’t take his eyes off us. He had a best friend at the auction named Steve who was always right next to him. Steve was a bit braver and eventually approached us at the auction while Big John watched. As we pet Steve, Big John decided that we were ok. He has giant expressive eyebrows, and we could tell when he relaxed a bit and decided that we were good people. They are both healing physically and emotionally at Oscar’s Place. At some point they will be up for adoption together!
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About the Artist:​
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Melisa Beveridge of Woollybear Travels is a Registered Veterinary Technician and a Science Illustrator on a mission to make the world a better place for orphaned, injured, and rescued animals. Through Woollybear Travels, she goes to animal sanctuaries around the world and volunteers her services as an animal nurse, where it’s legal, or does general volunteer work if it’s not. She writes about the animals she meets, the people who are helping them, and creates artwork based on her experiences.
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About Oscar's Place:​
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Donkeys are some of the most loving and trusting creatures on Earth, and when they suffer because humans are unkind, Oscar’s Place steps in. While we’re just a team of everyday individuals, we deeply care for and are committed to providing a safe haven for donkeys in need.​ We focus on donkeys because the world's donkey population is being decimated. Not by disease, global warming, or predators. But because there is a high demand for their hides in the creation of a traditional Chinese medicine.
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They deserve better than to be abused, crowded into horrifying transport containers, and shipped off to slaughter factories. Our mission is straight-forward: To every donkey that makes its way to Oscar’s Place, we will do everything in our power to keep that animal safe, healthy & happy for the rest of its life.
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We love animals, and quite frankly, we need to team up with other people who also care about what happens to these beautiful creatures. The good news is that it doesn’t take much to make a big difference.​When you make a donation, you help a donkey recover emotionally and physically from its past.
You are restoring their belief in humans as caregivers. Your impact even makes it possible to re-home donkeys to carefully-screened adopters, which enables us to bring more of these precious animals into our care system. Again, we’re not special, but our team consists of caring employees, volunteers, veterinarians, and farriers – all with a singular objective: to help donkeys recover physically, mentally, and emotionally. Every person on-site is committed to hands-on interaction with our donkeys, every day.Loving them. Calming them. Healing them. We want to show them that humans can be good. Can you save a donkey’s life today or can you share this message?
Thank you so much for caring.