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AUGUST 2025

FEATHERS, ORTEGA, BRODY & GUY

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Feathers, Ortega & Brody's Story

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All three donkeys in this photo—Ortega, Brody, and Feathers—found their way to Oscar’s Place through very different paths, yet they now share a life filled with love, care, and safety. Their individual journeys reflect the diverse and sometimes challenging realities that bring donkeys to our sanctuary, as well as the unwavering commitment of our staff and volunteers to provide them with the best possible care.

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Ortega’s story began right here at Oscar’s Place, where he was born in May 2022. As one of our sanctuary-born donkeys, Ortega has never known fear, neglect, or hardship. His life has been marked by safety, love, and the joy of growing up in a stable environment surrounded by caring people. While donkeys like Ortega are a reminder of what is possible when animals are given the care they deserve from the very beginning, not every donkey shares this fortunate start.

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Brody, for instance, arrived at Oscar’s Place as an owner surrender in August 2023. His previous owner, unable to continue caring for him, entrusted him to us. Like many owner surrenders, Brody’s journey involved significant adjustment. For donkeys, the transition from a familiar home to a new environment can be overwhelming. Brody was no exception, arriving uncertain and wary of the changes around him. Yet, with time, patience, and consistent care, he began to settle in, learning to trust the people and donkeys around him.

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Feathers was rescued from an auction in May 2024, arriving at Oscar’s Place with her young son. The conditions at auctions can be deeply distressing, and when Feathers arrived her demeanor was initially cautious and guarded. Yet, as is often the case with rescued donkeys, she began to open up as she realized she was finally in a place where she would be safe and cared for.

Despite their different backgrounds, Ortega, Brody, and Feathers now share a common life at Oscar’s Place. Each donkey has their own personality, history, and timeline for building trust, but all receive the same unwavering love and support from our team. For donkeys like Brody and Feathers, the process of learning to trust humans can be slow and delicate. Some begin to show curiosity quickly, while others take much longer to let down their guard. Our staff and volunteers meet each donkey where they are, offering patience, kindness, and care at every step of the journey.

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Once trust is established, it’s truly remarkable to see the transformation. Donkeys who once shied away from human contact become curious, playful, and affectionate, often seeking out attention from their caretakers. The joy of watching a rescued donkey bloom is a reminder of why we do what we do at Oscar’s Place.

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Ortega, Brody, and Feathers now enjoy lives filled with peace and companionship, surrounded by other donkeys and a community of people who love them. Their stories highlight the different paths that lead to Oscar’s Place, as well as the sanctuary’s mission to provide every donkey—whether born here or rescued—a chance to live a life free from fear and neglect.

Change the life of a donkey in need.

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About the Photographer:​

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Johanna Siegmann is an internally award-winning portrait and architecture photographer, specializing in photographing people with their pets. A collection of her unique images, which capture the relationship between humans and animal, has been published as In Good Company (Notable People with their Pets), available online globally and via special order from your local bookstore. Johanna believes in giving back to the community, and a portion of the proceeds from the book are going to charity. She has donated her time and talent to Oscar’s Place for this calendar project.

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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.

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