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FEBRUARY 2025
JEN JEN & SEBASTIAN
Jen Jen's Story
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Jen Jen's journey at Oscar's Place began in February 2024 under unfortunate and heartfelt circumstances. She came to us as an owner surrender after the passing of her beloved previous owner, who entrusted Oscar’s Place with the care of three donkeys in their will. Among the trio, Jen Jen stood out as the eldest, a wise and gentle soul at 34 years old. The other two donkeys, much younger and full of youthful energy, were not bonded with Jen Jen. After careful observation to ensure she was comfortable, the younger donkeys were placed into a loving forever home, where they could thrive.
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For Jen Jen, the story unfolded differently. As a senior donkey, she found her permanent sanctuary here at Oscar’s Place, where she is surrounded by a community of compassionate volunteers and dedicated staff. Her days are filled with care, affection, and the understanding that she has earned every bit of the love and comfort we provide.
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Senior donkeys like Jen Jen often face unique challenges, and she is no exception. At her advanced age, she deals with significant health issues. Her teeth are severely worn, making it difficult for her to chew properly, and she is blind in one eye, which requires extra attention and care. Her dental condition makes her highly susceptible to choking, so we are careful with her diet and feeding routines. To keep her safe and healthy, Jen Jen is fed a specialized diet that includes shredded and soaked hay —foods that are easy for her to consume.
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In a unique and cherished routine, Jen Jen is the only donkey at Oscar's Place allowed to graze freely on green grass. She is very familiar with this routine, and each day, a staff member like Sebastian, Jack, or another trusted caregiver walks her from her pen to the yard. Watching her enjoy this simple pleasure is a reminder of why we do what we do: to ensure that animals like Jen Jen experience joy, dignity, and peace in their later years.
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We know that Jen Jen is in the final chapter of her life, but that only deepens our commitment to her care. The staff and volunteers of Oscar’s Place work tirelessly to create an environment where Jen Jen feels safe and cherished. Whether it’s a gentle pat, a soothing word, or a carefully prepared meal, every action reflects the profound bond we share with her.
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Jen Jen’s presence at Oscar’s Place is a testament to the beauty of giving back to animals who have given so much in their lives. She may be a senior, but her spirit is strong, and her story continues to inspire everyone who meets her. Here, surrounded by caring hands, and hearts full of love, Jen Jen is living out her golden years in the comfort she so richly deserves.
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.