We have donkeys for adoption! Some are ready to leave within a few days, while others are close to completing their ground training program. Here are a few suggestions for you as you are considering contacting us to adopt a donkey:
- We do not send out single donkeys to a home that does not already have a donkey. Even a horse or several horses will often not be enough to satisfy a donkey's need for companionship. Horses are behaviorally different by nature, and we often observe donkeys to remain lonely and/or bored - or worse, be picked on - in a herd of horses. Goats often do not make good companions for donkeys, either. Two of our past adopters returned donkeys to us that were given access to baby goats; sadly, in each case, one of the donkeys had killed a baby. This happens a lot, and you can get more information from goat breeders or others who have tried out donkeys as guardian animals or heard about such endeavors, or from the Donkey Sanctuary of England:
https://www.thedonkeysanctuary.org.uk/sites/uk/files/2020-04/keeping-donkeys-with-other-animals-factsheet-march-2020.pdf
With this in mind, if you don't already have a donkey at home, we will ask you to adopt a pair.
- Also for the above reasons, we no longer adopt out donkeys as guardian animals, be it for goats, cattle, sheep or chickens. Many donkeys used to guard cattle have been seen chasing young calves around rather than actually protecting them. Donkeys have been reported watching their chicken being carried away by coyotes without bothering to interfere. And donkeys have been reported to kill goats or sheep, especially smaller ones. If you wish to read more about how donkeys do with other animals, here is a good article:
https://www.thedonkeysanctuary.org.uk/sites/uk/files/2020-04/keeping-donkeys-with-other-animals-factsheet-march-2020.pdf
- We rarely have mini donkeys or mammoth donkeys larger than 14hh for adoption. If you don't see one listed here, we don't have one any time soon.
- Our donkeys are adopted out under a contract by which we intend to protect them in the long run. The contract gives both parties rights and obligations. The contract prohibits breeding as well as selling or otherwise passing on the adopted donkeys to another home or another person without our permission. It also requires you to return the donkeys to us or seek our written permission for a follow-up adoption of your choice in case you can no longer take care of them. If you are not willing to sign or abide by such a contract for the protection of the donkeys, then adoption is not for you.
- Donkeys require care and attention, and their proper maintenance does cost some money. If you cannot afford hay (hoping that you can let them graze off the ground in your yard or pasture instead), you should not adopt a donkey. Not only did we get donkeys returned whose adopters were mistaken in believing that what grows on their property can feed the animals properly, but at times the grass and weeds on a pasture - even in New Mexico - can become too rich in sugars and cause laminitis in donkeys. During such times, the donkeys need to be removed from pasture and kept in a dry lot most of the day. If you cannot provide this, then you should rethink your decision to adopt donkeys. The same goes if you cannot provide routine preventative vet care or vet care in an emergency.
- We have recently raised our adoption fees both because of the recent price inflation on Craigslist even for untrained donkeys and also in order to deter interested parties that may not have sufficient resources to cover routine veterinary care for adopted donkeys. It has happened too often lately that people expressed commitment to adopting donkeys and then never came through with the adoption fee. Our fees now vary from $350 to $1000 for a single donkey and $700 to $1750 for a pair, depending on size and training status. In all cases, the fee includes ground training, recent Coggins, wellness exam, core vaccinations (in fall/winter flu/rhino instead of west nile), dental float if needed, hoof trim, worming, and brand inspection if needed.
- We conduct home inspections prior to adoption. We require sturdy and safe fencing (preferably no barbed wire), a sturdy, roofed shelter with at least 3 sides or a barn, usually at least an acre of pasture for 2 donkeys and, in addition, a smaller dry lot (or nearly dry lot) for training, vet care, farrier care or just to park the donkeys if they develop laminitis from too much pasture access or need to be separated temporarily. We will work with future adopters who still need to develop their facilities prior to the arrival of the donkeys. We expect adopters to continue providing at least the same quality of veterinary care for routine and emergency procedures that we have afforded their donkeys prior to adoption.
- We do not send out single donkeys to a home that does not already have a donkey. Even a horse or several horses will often not be enough to satisfy a donkey's need for companionship. Horses are behaviorally different by nature, and we often observe donkeys to remain lonely and/or bored - or worse, be picked on - in a herd of horses. Goats often do not make good companions for donkeys, either. Two of our past adopters returned donkeys to us that were given access to baby goats; sadly, in each case, one of the donkeys had killed a baby. This happens a lot, and you can get more information from goat breeders or others who have tried out donkeys as guardian animals or heard about such endeavors, or from the Donkey Sanctuary of England:
https://www.thedonkeysanctuary.org.uk/sites/uk/files/2020-04/keeping-donkeys-with-other-animals-factsheet-march-2020.pdf
With this in mind, if you don't already have a donkey at home, we will ask you to adopt a pair.
- Also for the above reasons, we no longer adopt out donkeys as guardian animals, be it for goats, cattle, sheep or chickens. Many donkeys used to guard cattle have been seen chasing young calves around rather than actually protecting them. Donkeys have been reported watching their chicken being carried away by coyotes without bothering to interfere. And donkeys have been reported to kill goats or sheep, especially smaller ones. If you wish to read more about how donkeys do with other animals, here is a good article:
https://www.thedonkeysanctuary.org.uk/sites/uk/files/2020-04/keeping-donkeys-with-other-animals-factsheet-march-2020.pdf
- We rarely have mini donkeys or mammoth donkeys larger than 14hh for adoption. If you don't see one listed here, we don't have one any time soon.
- Our donkeys are adopted out under a contract by which we intend to protect them in the long run. The contract gives both parties rights and obligations. The contract prohibits breeding as well as selling or otherwise passing on the adopted donkeys to another home or another person without our permission. It also requires you to return the donkeys to us or seek our written permission for a follow-up adoption of your choice in case you can no longer take care of them. If you are not willing to sign or abide by such a contract for the protection of the donkeys, then adoption is not for you.
- Donkeys require care and attention, and their proper maintenance does cost some money. If you cannot afford hay (hoping that you can let them graze off the ground in your yard or pasture instead), you should not adopt a donkey. Not only did we get donkeys returned whose adopters were mistaken in believing that what grows on their property can feed the animals properly, but at times the grass and weeds on a pasture - even in New Mexico - can become too rich in sugars and cause laminitis in donkeys. During such times, the donkeys need to be removed from pasture and kept in a dry lot most of the day. If you cannot provide this, then you should rethink your decision to adopt donkeys. The same goes if you cannot provide routine preventative vet care or vet care in an emergency.
- We have recently raised our adoption fees both because of the recent price inflation on Craigslist even for untrained donkeys and also in order to deter interested parties that may not have sufficient resources to cover routine veterinary care for adopted donkeys. It has happened too often lately that people expressed commitment to adopting donkeys and then never came through with the adoption fee. Our fees now vary from $350 to $1000 for a single donkey and $700 to $1750 for a pair, depending on size and training status. In all cases, the fee includes ground training, recent Coggins, wellness exam, core vaccinations (in fall/winter flu/rhino instead of west nile), dental float if needed, hoof trim, worming, and brand inspection if needed.
- We conduct home inspections prior to adoption. We require sturdy and safe fencing (preferably no barbed wire), a sturdy, roofed shelter with at least 3 sides or a barn, usually at least an acre of pasture for 2 donkeys and, in addition, a smaller dry lot (or nearly dry lot) for training, vet care, farrier care or just to park the donkeys if they develop laminitis from too much pasture access or need to be separated temporarily. We will work with future adopters who still need to develop their facilities prior to the arrival of the donkeys. We expect adopters to continue providing at least the same quality of veterinary care for routine and emergency procedures that we have afforded their donkeys prior to adoption.
You can check out our current Guide for New Donkey Owners with some useful information about basic donkey care here. An electronic copy of the official Donkey Care Handbook from the Donkey Sanctuary of England, and a current generic version of our adoption contract, can be viewed and/or downloaded below:

adoption_agreement_generic.pdf | |
File Size: | 114 kb |
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donkey_care_handbook.pdf | |
File Size: | 5736 kb |
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AVAILABLE DONKEYS SPRING 2022
CHIP
Chip is a small mammoth donkey (14hh or just under) probably in his early- to mid-twenties. He was used as a breeding jack in his former life and was gelded in late August 2021. He is utd on vaccinations, dentals, hoof trim, and worming and will get Coggins pulled before adoption. He is very healthy and has good hooves.
Chip has a wonderful and huge personality, very affectionate and sweet. He halters, leads, loads (with a little coaching), ties, and stands well for the farrier. He has recently started carrying a pack saddle and loves doing things with people. He also immensely enjoys the little luxuries and comforts of a pampered equine life, such as a blanket at night during the winter and, of course, good shelter from the elements. And he needs equine company to share his space with. Chip absolutely loves small kids. He would be the perfect kid donkey. He has also carried small kids on his back while being led around. Due to getting little exercise in his former life and being kept in a small space, it has taken him a while to develop more mobility since coming to us. We therefore do not recommend that he be used for adult riding at his age. He could, however, make a great therapy donkey or first riding donkey for small kids. He could even make a good parade donkey due to his calm personality and eagerness to do things with people. Chip is social, though a little shy at first, with other donkeys and also likes horses. He could make a good horse companion. However, as a former breeding jack who was gelded very late in his life, he still exhibits a lot of mating behavior around female equines, especially if they are in heat. Chip is somewhat of a hard keeper. He does well with a grass/alfalfa mix in addition to soaked Triple Crown senior feed. The senior feed must be soaked very well and a little soupy, otherwise he tends to choke due to gobbling it down too fast. (He never chokes on hay). If he chokes, however, he always managed to cough himself free. Chip's adoption fee is $500. We will only let him go to the right home where he will be as loved (or more) and appreciated as he is here. At his new home, he is expected to be well taken care of for the rest of his life, enjoy regular preventive vet care, equine and human company, plenty of space to roam and exercise, safe shelter and fencing, good food, and lots of love. |
PACO JOSÉ
Paco is a 14-year-old large standard gelding whose dam and sir were both mammoth jack stock. He has a nice conformation, but at 13 hh just a little too small for breeders' standards. At intake, Paco had a long bone spur coming out from his jaw as a result of a past injury; we had it surgically removed in September 2021, and there are no signs that it will regrow.
Paco halters, leads, ties, loads, and has just recently been started under the pack saddle. He stands well for the farrier. He very much enjoys doing and seeks to do things with people, but he is also very social with other animals and loves playing and wrestling with other donkey boys. He has also made friends with our two farm dogs through the fence as well as with the neighbor's cows, and he loves hanging out with other donkeys. Like most donkey geldings, he will exhibit mating behavior is he is near jennets in heat. Paco would be a great prospect for packing, driving, and perhaps as a future kids riding donkey, although he would be a little too pushy for smaller kids. Paco is still learning manners. He is focused and behaves well while on halter and lead and doing things, but he can get into people's space if they hang out with him randomly and don't set firm boundaries. Paco likes donkeys, horses, and other animals, but he has been making contact with dogs and cattle only through a fence. He did try to aggressively go after cats at first that came into his space, though he has mellowed out a bit since then. We do not know how he would behave without a fence in between him and other species of animals. He does get along well with other equines as long as they know how to handle his playfulness. Paco's adoption fee is $650 at this time and will go up with more training. |
DUKE
Duke is a c. 13-year-old small standard gelding who came to us in August 2021 from the same home as Paco and Chip. At intake, he suffered from two huge summer sores on his right front leg that had to be surgically removed and required long aftercare. Duke was for the most part very patient during his healing period and tolerated frequent changing of his bandages pretty well. His wounds have healed up by now, but he has some hairless spots along both front legs, the largest one of which is on his right front knee, which will need special protection and care to prevent any future fly attacks. This makes him somewhat of a special needs donkey, though he is otherwise very healthy and active.
Duke halters, leads, ties, and loads well. He stands really well for the farrier. He very much enjoys doing and seeks to do things with people, but he is also very social with other donkeys and loves horses. He is a little bit food aggressive but does much better in the company of females than males. Like most donkey geldings, he will exhibit mating behavior is he is near jennets in heat. Duke would make a great pet together with another donkey and could also be trained to do something more such as pulling a cart or carrying light pack loads. He could make a cute little parade donkey. Duke comes utd on dentals, all core vaccinations, worming, and hoof trim as well as Coggins. Adopters are expected to provide the same level of veterinary care that he received from us. His adoption fee is $350. |