LONGHOPES Legends - Longhopes Donkey Shelter
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LONGHOPES Legends Winter 2020
Woodstock, Bronx, Arturo and 7 other geldings were transported from Michigan to LonghopesSummer 2017
in December.
Having arrived with minimal skills they can now all halter, lead, pick up their hooves and trailer load.
2019 was a record year…
Last year we rescued and admitted 109 new donkeys into our rehabilitation program and adopted out 113
donkeys. Most were out of Oklahoma but the 10 arrived from Michigan. December is a terrible time in Colo-
rado to care for large animals. But when we received a desperate call from the Crossroads Donkey Rescue,
we couldn’t say no. After a two day trip that was delayed by Midwest snowstorms, the 10 new donkeys land-
ed on their hooves at Longhopes.
2020 will be a record year….
Already this year we have taken in several
owner surrenders, donkeys previously
adopted that outlived their adopters’
health, and one auction donkey. We also
took in 5 feral donkeys from the USDA For-
est Service in New Mexico. Yes, we know it
is February and we are buried in snow and
ice, but we knew we were the best chance
for these feral donkeys. Here they are in
the picture (right).
FEIN 84-1538890 1 www.longhopes.org
Our Training Arena and its success
The new indoor training arena we build last April with some spe-
cial donations, our savings and a small grant from CUHA has
been an incredible asset! Last year we recorded over 1,200
hours of volunteer work; half of which were completed inside
the training arena. Now every donkey is
able to receive full training regardless of
the weather. It is also a quiet area for the
donkeys to train without distractions.
(above) Jennifer Bail, our Assistant Equine
Manager with Dakota getting a riding lesson.
We have new obstacles both inside and
outside to challenge the donkeys, improve
their self-confidence, teach them to trust
humans and sometimes just show off.
In a report dated November 2019 the U.K. Donkey Sanctuary echoes our prior
warning about the expanding Chinese donkey hide market to make Ejiao. The
industry demands 4.8 million donkey skins annually, and only 1 million is sup-
plied inside China. The remainder must be harvested and shipped from other
parts of the world. With 44 million donkeys globally and a 4.8 million hide
demand each year, 1/2 the global donkey population could be gone in 5 years
and all of it gone in 10 years. China and Africa have opened donkey breeding
farms to meet the demand. But it would take 20 years to meet China’s hide
demand from this method so the poaching, theft, and easy sale of donkeys being killed for their hides continues to rise.
And unlike the meat industry, the hides have the same value regardless of the donkey’s health. Many travel 8-10 days to
the slaughterhouse with no food or water. Some are crushed to death during transport. Many arrive with broken bones in
overcrowded trucks. Further, the growing demand for a dubious “medical product” has increased donkey theft-which is a
global threat. The U.S. is not immune because it is a confirmed, and the third biggest in the world exporter of hides. After
many requests Ebay discontinued selling Ejiao. But AMAZON continues to offer it for sale.
What can you do?
1) Support legitimate donkey rescues that will protect
donkeys.
2) Use your consumer weight. Stop buying from Ama-
zon or any retailer that sells Ejiao until it stops selling
Ejiao. Retailers care about sales.
Longhopes Donkey Shelter 2
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Miss Bliss Corner You know you’re getting old when your friends begin to pass on
before you. I am now 19 years old. In 2019, I saw the passing
of Gertie age 32 and Hattie age 42. Both of these old gals
were rescued by Longhopes off a slaughterhouse truck many
years ago. As Kathy Dean says, “we could have left the old
donkeys at the kill-pen, but we don’t believe in leaving anyone
behind,” and that was that. Gertie had one rough adoption but
once back to Longhopes, she led a pampered life as Hattie’s
sidekick. Hattie was the matriarch of Longhopes and the per-
fect sitter for every foal born at Longhopes. But when a don-
key comes to Longhopes for retirement, we have to accept
Advice with a side of sASS that the donkey will die some day, some month, or some year
of what gets us all-OLD AGE.
I was particularly hurt when my fat, grey, 28 year old mini-friend - Nacho recently died.
He had been my boyfriend for many years and I was gracious enough to let him live in the
shadow of my glow. As will happen with animals, he suffered a muscle injury to a back leg
last fall and despite valiant efforts every day by the Longhopes staff treatment compli-
cations sent him into an irreversible emergency. I miss him, but I am grateful Longhopes
was willing and able to help him pass in peace to end his suffering; and for an abandoned
animal that is itself a gift.
Love knows no rules
Schroeder, a 22 year old, grey, miniature don-
key, arrived in 2016 from a hoarder. Schroeder
had an old shoulder dislocation which left him
with an limp. He had a mule friend but didn’t
like any other donkey. The mule wanted and
needed horses. Schroeder was afraid of hors-
es. So they parted ways. Ever since then
Schroeder has insisted on being “single,” in
his own stall at night to rest his shoulder with-
out the fear of being stepped on by anyone. He
has NEVER been willing to allow any other
donkeys to share the stall...until Audrey. Audrey is a gorgeous 21 year old, spotted miniature
jennet. She arrived with permanent hoof damage from neglect and was overweight. But we
have fit her with boots, which has solved her lameness. Audrey also needs a warm place to
lay down at night so she joined Schroeder in his stall. At first Schroeder was not happy. And
even if you ask him now, he’ll DENY that he is smitten with Audrey. But Schroeder was spot-
ted last week following Audrey into the training Arena. He refused to leave her side and
made sure that Audrey was okay the entire time! Oh Schroeder… admit it, you are in LOVE!
FEIN 84-1538890 3 www.longhopes.org
Longhopes Donkey Shelter
NONPROFIT
66 N Dutch Valley Rd
ORGANIZATION
Bennett, CO 80102
U.S. POSTAGE PAID
303-644-5930 | info@longhopes.org
STRASBURG, CO
PERMIT NO. 8
5 Fulltime Staff Members
7 Unpaid Board Members
2,457 Volunteer Hours
1,284 Hooves Trimmed
13 Donkeys in Permanent Sanctuary
55 Veterinary Appointments
109 Donkeys Rescued
113 Donkeys Adopted!
****Please help us reduce paper, postage, and printing costs for our LONGHOPES LEGEND newsletter.
Email us at info@longhopes.org if you can switch to our online email newsletter. *****
Our work never ends. Volunteer -Alan
Miller is back at it expanding our Fitting
Place Barn to accommodate a bigger
group of donkeys. The winter weather
has created a few setbacks but we are
determined to get it done.
Your DONATIONS will help us finish this
project. Thank you.
Next time your family is in town
for a visit bring them over for an
Airbnb Experience to meet the
donkeys of Longhopes!
Book your visit at:
airbnb.com/experiences/643850 By Karen Kaehler
Going for the Gold in the Longhopes ASSpiration Center
“A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING TOLL-FREE (800-435-7352) WITHIN THE
STATE. REGISTRATION DOS NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL, OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE”
FEIN 84-1538890 4 www.longhopes.org
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