Guelph, Ontario, Canada --
From the moment you walk through the gate of the Donkey Sanctuary of Canada in Guelph, Ontario you’ll be hooked. It’s a welcoming, relaxing, friendly and happy place. Even before you enter, you’ll walk past a picture postcard lake lined with mature Maples. An inviting picnic table beckons you and your family, but wait until after your visit. Your adventure is about to begin.

Chances are that Sandra Pady, who founded the sanctuary in 1992, will be at the entrance to welcome you. She answered the first question everyone asks, why donkeys? “In 1991 I found myself caring for 3 donkeys and from the first I was enamoured by them. Their gentle, intuitive natures made me appreciate, as never before, the soothing benefits to be derived from living animals. There presence has grounded me and I now appreciate I am alive.”

After she and her husband David in 1990 purchased a forty hectare (100 acre) farm outside of Guelph, her dream of rescuing animals was soon to become a reality. Incorporated in 1992 the sanctuary now has as many as 108 donkeys and mules (a mule is an offspring of a male donkey and a female horse). Animal Caretaker, Kyle Lederman, said, “The animals come from all different circumstances, some were calls from humane society to care for an abused animal. Others were abandoned, or simply became too old or difficult for their owners to take care of.”

Regan Russell of Hamilton, Ontario a teacher and an advocate of animal rights is one of the many volunteers that help out at the farm. A volunteer for 12 years she said, “It’s soothing place. I like the interaction with the visitors and the donkeys. The animals are the ones that are teaching us”.

Sandra Prady agrees, “When visitors spend time here, especially those who never interact with farm animals, they realize the importance and dignity of these creatures on this planet”.

They also encourage children to learn more about these gentle creatures. Regan Russell said, “Once they touch the donkeys, smell them and hug them there’s a long-lasting positive impression”.

You can touch donkeys up close in the large paddock outside the barn. Others can be seen grazing in large fields where they belong and not confined to stalls. Because the sanctuary is growing and there’s a limited amount of space, the farm has introduced a Foster Farm Program. Donkeys are placed in pairs on permanent loan at suitable farms in Southern Ontario. The farms are visited twice a year to ensure that standards are being maintained.

Licensed as a federal charity, The Donkey Sanctuary of Canada supports its animal rescues, lifelong animal care and animal welfare education from private donations. They take no government support.

If You Go The Donkey Sanctuary of Canada is open to the public only on Wednesday and Sunday, 9-4pm, from May 1st to Mid October.

---