Name: Scooter

    Type: Standard Donkey

    Color: White

    Markings: None

    Sex: Gelding

    Birthday: 1/1/2016

Scooter is the newest addition to our Trailside barn. He was one of the Bostic 9, seized by Rutherford County Animal Control in a heinous animal neglect case. He is coming around to being handleable, but unfortunately was starved and has significant issues in all four feet. His tongue is scarred from what we believe to be an injury sustained from foraging for food around sharp farm equipment. 

    Name: Ruby

    Type: Standard Donkey

    Color: Chestnut

    Markings: None

    Sex: Mare

    Birthday: 1/1/2016

Ruby came to Red Bell Run as part of a horrific abuse case in Chesnee, South Carolina. Ruby was very suspicious of people at first, but is now handleable. She is best friends with Moonshine!

    Name: Gus

    Type: Standard Donkey

    Color: White

    Markings: None

    Sex: Gelding

    Birthday: 1/1/2017

Gus has quite a tale to tell. He was loaded on a trailer heading to auction and an unknown fate when the driver stopped at a gas station. An elderly gentleman happened to see Gus, who is relatively rare in the donkey world since he has a brilliant white coat, and asked where they were taking him. Upon learning that Gus was being disposed of, the man asked if he could have him. The answer was yes, so Gus was taken to his home. Unfortunately, Gus’ new home didn’t have fencing appropriate for a wily donkey and soon Gus was running the roads of Anderson County, NC, and making a general nuisance of himself. Animal Control was called and after consultation with Gus’ owner, Gus was surrendered to Anderson County. 

Red Bell Run was asked to take Gus as he was unhandleable and had some skin and eye issues that desperately needed to be addressed. From months of sunlight exposure Gus’ eyes had chronic conjunctivitis and were very painful. it turns out that poor Gus is albino (or nearly so) and requires daily care and a special fly mask to protect his skin and eyes from the sun. He would require several weeks of special treatment for the skin under his eyes (which had been scalded by constant drainage from his eyes). His poor nose also showed the effects of being exposed to the sun. Daniel Martinez, our expert donkey wizard, and the staff the the Trailside Barn started training Gus to make it possible to give him the care he needed. Several months later Gus’ eye issues are under control; Gus has learned to enjoy being grooming; and our staff is even able to pick his hooves with a little patience. Although Gus will have to have lifelong care for his condition, he is now happily living with his friends at the Laughing Pony Barn and becoming a model citizen. 

    Name: Moonshine

    Type: Standard Donkey

    Color: Brown

    Markings: None

    Sex: Mare

    Birthday: 1/1/2019

Moonshine came to Red Bell Run as part of a horrific abuse case. Her sire, Buddy Jackson, had been pulled down a road by an ATV, tearing his poor legs to pieces. We gathered up the entire herd and Moonshine is safe forever at Red Bell Run. Because she suffers from a severe congenital heart defect she may have a limited lifespan but we’ll make sure she enjoys every moment of it! 

    Name: Jazmine

    Type: Donkey

    Color: Black

    Markings: None

    Sex: Mare

    Birthday: 11/26/2017

    Name: April

    Type: Donkey

    Color: Brown/White Paint

    Markings: Blaze

    Sex: Gelding

    Birthday: 5/26/2019

Jazmine and April were rescued by the Ark Watch Foundation with a group of donkeys bound for slaughter from a farm in Arkansas. The Humane Society of North Texas took this large group in for the Ark Watch Foundation, but there were several in much worse condition than the others. After consulting with the Ark Watch Foundation, The Humane Society of North Texas, and Reata Equine Clinic, it was decided to pull April (who was just a foal), her mom Jazmine, Jazmine’s sister Lula, and another older donkey named Smithers. The plan was to send them to Red Bell Run since their many health issues would prevent them from being adopted. Jazmine and April duly arrived at Red Bell Run with their friends; Jazmine’s health issues were addressed and are now stable. Miss April has grown up into one of the most beautiful donkeys at the Sanctuary. Jazmine and April still share a close mother-daughter bond and are happy with their Laughing Pony Barn family!