Why Donkeys?
Donkeys deserve our love and protection.
Donkeys are extraordinary animals: intelligent, sensitive, and deeply emotional. They form lifelong bonds with each other and the humans they trust. Once they know love, they return it tenfold. They’re more like dogs than horses: loyal, affectionate, and protective of their friends.
But donkeys around the world are in crisis. Once unwanted or considered “no longer useful” by their owners due to age or injury, many end up at auctions. They are bid on by kill pen buyers who sell them by the pound for slaughter to meet the growing demand for the collagen in their hides.
Half of the world’s donkey population would need to be killed in the next five years to meet rising demand for the collagen in their hides.
Source: Scientific American, 2020
The Crisis Donkeys Face
When an owner can no longer care for their donkey due to financial hardship, declining health, or life changes, or a working donkey is no longer physically fit, they often end up at an auction. Right now, millions of donkeys are in danger because of the growing demand for ejiao, a gelatin made from donkey hides.
Ejiao is used in traditional medicine and cosmetics. To meet the demand, donkeys are purchased in massive numbers from these auctions. They are crowded into trucks and shipping containers and sent to slaughter. This lucrative market leaves donkeys at risk.
The donkeys endure unimaginable suffering. Many of the donkeys at auctions are elderly, sick, or pregnant. At auctions, they are crowded into holding pens before being separated from their bonded companions and run through the ring. They are identified only by numbered tags glued to their hides.
The donkeys don’t know what’s happening to them. They are confused and afraid. Too often, they endure horrible conditions and cruelty, only to meet a tragic end. That is, unless a rescue like Oscar’s Place and compassionate people like you step in.
A Safe Place to Heal and Begin Again
Oscar’s Place rescues donkeys from auctions and welcomes them home to our ranch in Hopland, California. We also take in owner surrenders from people who can no longer care for their animal to prevent them from ending up in the auction system.
Every donkey receives the food, shelter, medicine, training, and love they need to recover both physically and emotionally. Some are adopted into a new forever home with carefully screened adopters, while others find lifelong sanctuary in our care.
Our promise to each donkey who walks through our gates is simple: we will do everything in our power to keep them safe, healthy, happy, and together with their bonded companion for the rest of their life.
Show a donkey that humans can be good.
There are so many donkeys who are suffering at the hands of humans and need help. You can help save their lives, provide them with emergency care, and support their road to recovery. You can restore their belief in humans as caregivers. Every dollar donated helps bring another donkey to safety and healing. Give these gentle animals the second chance they deserve.