Meet Patches
Age: Adult
Gender: John
Rescue Date: May 31, 2021
Patches’ Story
Patches is the most documented case of abuse that we’ve come across at Oscar’s Place. When he arrived on May 31st, 2021, he was unable to stand. So Ron picked him up off the ground and laid him on a trailer and drove him straight to the UC Davis Veterinary Hospital. The vets told us that he was dying of starvation and would not make it, but they needed a name to write down on his medical charts. Because big patches of his skin came off onto Ron’s arms when he unloaded him from the trailer, he chose the name Patches.
Patches had gone so long without food that his body had started consuming itself for energy. His eyes were sunk into the back of his head, making him blind, and he was missing about 10% of his skin and 50% of his hair. That an animal could be treated so horribly by humans was unfathomable.
After being on an IV for several days, his body miraculously switched to converting carbohydrates for energy. He rebounded and came back to Oscar’s Place for a very long road to recovery. He was skin and bones; we had to get weight on him and get his skin, hide, and hair to grow back. Unfortunately, his eyesight will never return due to the starvation that he suffered.
As Patches recovered, he became very loving and trusting of humans. When he was healthy enough, we had him castrated and seen by a dentist. They found that his tongue was completely severed on both sides, held together in the middle only by cartilage, indicating that he was a work donkey, pulling loads entirely too heavy for him. He probably wore a bit that was too small and never taken off (even to sleep). Patches was worked so hard that it literally ripped his tongue and almost killed him. When he could no longer eat and began to starve, his previous owners dumped him at an auction for slaughter. Luckily, he ended up here.
Today, Patches lives a very happy life and is completely loved by many. When he recognizes the sound of our voices, his ears perk up and he walks towards us. The fact that Patches trusts humans again is a testament to his resilience, forgiveness, and love.
Become an Oscar’s Place Guardian
When you sponsor Patches, you become a member of Oscar’s Place Guardians, our community of monthly donors who make each donkey’s healing possible.
Your steady support will help provide Patches with the food, shelter, medicine, and care he needs to thrive. You will make a life-changing difference, ensuring he will be safe and loved for the rest of his life.
When you sponsor a donkey, you’ll receive:
A printable sponsorship certificate and quarterly video updates on the donkey of your choosing (select any permanent resident of Oscar’s Place!)
Special monthly emails, which include insider updates and exclusive stories about the transformations you’re making possible.
A buy one, get one 50% off discount code for Oscar’s Place merchandise.
Invitations to Guardians-only Zoom events.
A free Oscar’s Place lapel pin (if you’d like one).
Exclusive access to occasional livestreams from our sanctuary.