Our Donkeys

 John was our very first rescue, and he holds a very special place in our hearts. He came to us on October 26, 2021, an 18-year-old mammoth donkey who had endured years of neglect. For a full decade, John had lived in a small lot with no hoof care and very little food. As a result, he developed painful arthritis that made each step a struggle.

Since arriving at DHH, John has blossomed. With regular hoof maintenance, arthritis medication, and as much hay and love as he could ever want, he is finally living the life he deserves. John is thriving, spoiled, and deeply loved by all of us.

Toby and Dobby were the very first donkeys to arrive at DHH, joining us on August 23, 2021. This bonded pair of miniature donkeys have been together their whole lives—and where you find one, the other is never far behind.

Both are 7 years old, full of personality, and absolute favorites among our visitors. They’re gentle, especially with children, and always eager for attention, treats, and a good scratch. Toby and Dobby are more than just residents, they’re the heart of our sanctuary and our official DHH mascots.

 Bo was a lone jack donkey living in a cattle pasture where he never quite fit in. Frustrated and misunderstood, he often charged the cows and even ran them through fences. His behavior led to isolation, and he spent much of his time confined to a single stall, away from both people and animals.

When we were contacted about Bo, we knew he deserved a better life. We brought him home to DHH, where he could finally be among his own kind. After being gelded and slowly introduced to the herd, Bo transformed. He’s now a calm, affectionate member of the family, proving that with patience, understanding, and love, every donkey has a chance to heal.

 Charlie and Amos are an inseparable pair who came to us from a loving home. When their previous owner’s health began to decline, she made the difficult but selfless decision to find them a new place where they could continue to thrive.

Charlie is a 4-year-old mammoth donkey, and Amos is a 6-year-old standard donkey. Both are full of personality—gentle, affectionate, and always eager for a scratch behind the ears. They’re a joy to everyone who meets them, and we’re honored to be their forever home.

 Matilda and Janie were found by a fellow rescuer in a Mississippi kill pen, left behind after an auction. Janie was just a 4-month-old baby, bottle-fed after losing her mother. Matilda, a 6-year-old Jenny who was heavily pregnant, had also been discarded.

In that lonely place, they found comfort in each other. Matilda adopted Janie as her own, and the two became inseparable.

They were later taken in by a kind person in Blue Ridge, but when she suffered a back injury and could no longer care for them, we were contacted. We brought them home—to their forever home here at DHH.

In loving memory of sweet Matilda, who gave Janie the love and protection of a mother, and who touched all of our hearts with her gentle spirit.

 Norma Jean is our sweet special needs donkey here at DHH. She and her bonded companion were taken to an auction, where they were sadly separated and sold off for profit.

Not long after, Norma Jean was flipped to an unsuspecting adopter. They were told she only had a limp from a farrier visit, but that wasn’t true. She actually has a congenital ligament deformity in her legs that causes her to stumble and struggle with mobility.

Despite this, she was sold for $1,800.

Thankfully, her new owners recognized she needed special care and a safe place to truly thrive. We’re so grateful they chose to bring her to us, where she could decompress, heal, and be loved just as she is.

Norma Jean now has the forever home she deserves, one where her unique needs are met with patience, comfort, and compassion.

 In the spring of 2023, Animal Control reached out to DHHS regarding a runaway donkey. Elle Mae was initially housed at a horse rescue, but when the authorities shut down the rescue, she was left behind.

In a state of starvation and desperation, Elle Mae managed to escape her enclosure and was discovered grazing on the grass by the roadside of a major highway. This posed a perilous situation. DHHS, Animal Control from the surrounding counties, and a veterinarian armed with a tranquilizer gun arrived at the scene. Elle Mae needed to be rescued before sunset that day; otherwise, euthanasia would be the unfortunate outcome due to safety concerns related to her location near busy roadways.

For eight hours, we raced against time to save her. Just as the sun began to dip below the horizon, Elle Mae was successfully tranquilized and carefully loaded into a trailer, on her way to safety.

Now, Elle Mae is approximately 10 to 12 years old and enjoys her days alongside her new companion, Rosemary.