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Donkey refuge opens for visitors with resiliency & Sustainability at top of mind Press Release
Donkey friends, rejoice! The Turtle Valley Donkey Refuge is now open for weekend drop-in visits, and prebookings on Quiet Tuesdays & Group Tour Thursdays. Open Saturdays & Sundays from 10:30am to 3:30pm, with the last entry at 3pm, visitors to the Refuge can spend time with the donkeys, bring a picnic & enjoy the fresh air & peaceful atmosphere, and browse the Donkey Shoppe.
Located near Chase, the Donkey Refuge provides a safe, secure, & permanent home for neglected, abused or unwanted Donkeys. Refuge Founders Shirley Mainprize and Rob Miller have been rescuing donkeys for over 25 years. “The Refuge houses 100 donkeys in permanent care, with foster farms helping support our cause.”
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Donkeys originate from Africa and were imported during colonization. “Donkeys are one of the most resilient animals, and their ability to recover always surprises and inspires us. When a donkey arrives here, we make a promise to that animal to provide the best possible opportunity to heal.”
Over the years, keeping that promise has included developing more irrigation for pastures and fire protection, installing generators for backup power to ensure the donkeys always have fresh clean water, and building an infirmary & insulated recovery room for sick donkeys.
This year the Refuge is focusing on resiliency and environmental sustainability. Mainprize notes “We just planted windrows of aspens to help with fire protection as well as crabapple and saskatoons to feed native animals, birds, and insects. Our goal is to plant 200 trees this year.” The TNRD is helping with a $1000 grant to plant another round of trees in the fall. Other ways the Refuge is looking to increase sustainability? “Hot composting, solar power, insulating the barns, flowers for pollinators, and connecting people with the outdoor environment.”
Recent temperature extremes are especially hard on the donkeys, with colic at an all-time high among area equines. “It’s not just us – we have heard from many other horse people in the region who have had colic issues this year. The weather is very unstable, and it has not been kind to donkeys, horses, mules, and other grazing animals.”
Visitors should also note the Refuge is resuming construction on their Barn Expansion, which had to be put on hold due to supply chain issues and the winter weather, so some areas of the farm will be off limits this summer. “The barn expansion is crucial to our longterm planning, and we are hoping we can mitigate the risks of colic by also insulating the existing barn while we have the workers here. A generous long-time supporter has kicked off our insulation campaign with $25,000 and we are hoping to raise another $75,000.”
Donations for the Donkeys can be made online at turtlevalleydonkeyrefuge. com/donate or call Shirley 250-679-2778. All donations will receive a tax receipt.
