Name: Highway Joe

    Type: Standard Donkey

    Color: Grey

      Markings: Donkey Cross

    Sex: Gelding

    Birthday: 1/1/2017

In early November 2022, late on a Friday evening, a stray jack donkey was sighted running down our local highway by our vet services administrator, Dee Joy. After running close to 15 miles, Dee was able to safely catch the now shaking and exhausted little donkey. Animal Control was called and the donkey was immediately taken to Tryon Equine Hospital for medical attention. Poor Highway Joe had “tied up” due to stress and over-exertion and was placed on IV-fluids, Niacin, B12 and Ceftioflor. Tying up, or azoturia as it is also known, is a muscle metabolism condition found in equines, often during or after exercise. This results in muscle  cramping of the muscle groups along the back and hind-quarters. The muscles contract and do not relax causing pain and stiffness. If not treated, it can also adversely affect the kidneys. 

Joe was thin and his white blood cell count was very high indicating infection and he had many superficial wounds. Fortunately, we were able to get him all of the medical attention he needed and he started on the road to recovery at Red Bell Run. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the end of Joe’s health issues. He turned out to be quite a sensitive soul and of course, he was now displaced and in a strange place with strange people, no matter how well-meaning. It didn’t help that because he was an intact jack (stallion), he had to be isolated until he could gain enough weight to be gelded. Poor Joe was treated for ulcers and although he was cossetted by the staff, it was clear that we had our hands full getting him to the point that he could be gelded and able to have some donkey companionship. This is why we always advise people that a donkey needs another donkey!

It was a slow journey for poor Joe and he had to return to the clinic for treatment several times before he was finally stabilized and could be gelded. Once gelded, he faced another two months of isolation to be sure he was sterile. Finally, Joe was deemed safe to be with other donkeys and we began trying to find friends for him. This wasn’t as easy as it sounds. Joe, being the sensitive type, was also easily dominated, had a persnickety appetite so had to be fed separately, and was in general a “hot house flower” of a donkey! We tried several spots, including two little geldings we hoped would be his buddies – but Joe just stood off to the side, wouldn’t defend his food and just wasn’t thriving as we had hoped.

However, in desperation, we decided to move Highway Joe up to the main donkey herd at our Longears Lodge, but placed him in separate housing with a smaller group of jennies. With Millie, Jingo and Lucky, Joe was in Heaven! He took to being the only “guy” in an all-female posse like a duck to water! Two more jennies, Gracie and Ella Grace, have since joined Joe’s little herd, and they have all become fast friends! Sometimes it takes a lot of maneuvering – and thinking – and re-thinking – to get it right for each equine! That’s what we strive to do here, and we’re so happy that Highway Joe’s health issues are behind him. This very handsome donkey is happy with his life in the company of his friends and our caring staff and volunteers!  

    Name: Jingo

    Type: Standard Donkey

    Color: Black

      Markings: White points

    Sex: Mare

    Birthday: 1/1/2006

    Name: Lucky

    Type: Standard Donkey

    Color: Black

      Markings: White points

    Sex: Mare

    Birthday: 1/1/2012

    Name: Millie

    Type: Standard Donkey

    Color: Brown

    Sex: Mare

    Birthday: 1/1/2015

Millie is a very special donkey. Orphaned within a few days of her birth, she was named Milagra or “Miracle” because the fact that she was ever born is a miracle. Her mother, with a truckload of other poor donkeys were on their way to Mexico for slaughter when Celine Myers of the Ark Watch Foundation stepped in, had the truck turned around and partnered with several other rescues to save them all. Unfortunately, the stress of the trip to Mexico took its toll on Millie’s sweet mother. Although they were sent to Texas A&M, she was unable to be saved.

Now alone, Millie was adopted by a woman in Texas who raised her in her kitchen. Millie had a dog door to the backyard and was thoroughly spoiled. Sadly, this leads to issues. it is NEVER a good idea to raise a baby donkey (or any other baby equine) without introducing them as soon as possible to other donkeys or equines. Ideally, there is a sweet jenny that will accept the baby but this isn’t always the case. Raising orphaned equines isn’t for the inexperienced because it can lead to what happened to Millie. It is a challenging undertaking.

Because Millie didn’t understand she was a donkey and not a small furry human, she developed behaviors that became exceedingly dangerous. As Millie grew, the normal donkey behaviors like nipping, kicking and wrestling were unacceptable. She had outgrown the dog door and didn’t understand why she was removed from her home. Outside wasn’t where Millie wanted to be. The adopter returned her to the rescue and from there, Millie was accepted at Red Bell Run because of her behavioral issues. We tried to introduce Millie into a herd but the years of being an “only donkey” caused her to suffer from stress. Even though our herd accepted her, she constantly sought the company of humans, her hair began to fall out and she lost weight. After running diagnostics to make sure there wasn’t a physical issue, we decided, in consultation with our vet, that Millie needed to have her own space. So – Millie’s Manor was built where Millie now lives. She has access to the herd of donkeys next door and after a year or so is friendly with Jingo and Lucky, two easy-going jennies who overlook Millie’s personality quirks. They often go out in the paddock together but Millie always has the option to retreat to her “house” if she wants. She has adjusted to this lifestyle and the stress she felt trying to fit in the herd has been reduced. We love our Millie for the character she is!