Healing Hearts Donkey Shelter and Refuge - Northeast Region

10/21/2026

While some animal welfare organizations and rescues advocate that donkeys need other donkeys because of their unique social structures and communication styles, there are exceptions to every rule, and real-world exceptions do happen in which a donkey forms a deep, fulfilling bond with a horse.

However, donkeys and horses have completely different languages, both verbal and bodily. Donkeys have vocalizations, subtle ear positions, and other body language that horses don't always read correctly.

Donkeys have different play styles. They engage in rough-and-tumble play, including neck wrestling that differs from horses' play, and a horse may misinterpret this as aggression and react harshly.

Managing a horse and donkey together can be tough because they have very different nutritional needs. Furthermore, a sudden shift in herd dynamics can put the donkey at risk, as horses have been known to seriously injure single donkeys if the bond sours or a fight over food arises.

Some equine owners report successful long-term pairings. I've noticed that in a mixed pasture, horses and donkeys naturally segregate into their own species groups if given the choice.

If a donkey is already deeply attached to a horse and shows no signs of depression (like lethargy, loss of appetite, or pacing), then an exception might work just fine. But as a founder of a donkey shelter and refuge, I don't take chances. For general safety and wellness, a same-species friend remains our gold standard for their mental health.

10/06/2026

Q: WHICH IS BETTER, WHEAT STRAW OR BARLEY?

A: Wheat Straw doesn't have as much calories as Barley Straw; so because donkeys evolved in arid desert environments, they require a diet that is very high in fiber but low in energy (calories) and protein.

The Donkey Sanctuary ranks the calorie content of feeding straws from lowest to highest as follows:
Wheat Straw (Lowest calories / Lowest energy);
Barley Straw (Moderate calories / Ideal baseline);
Oat Straw (Highest calories / Highest energy).

Since Wheat Straw has the lowest nutritional value and calorie count; it's used to feed obese or overweight donkeys who need to lose weight. It's also highly fibrous, so they must have good teeth to chew it safely. Because of its tough, fibrous nature and lower caloric value, wheat straw is recommended for younger donkeys with good teeth, or overweight donkeys.

Barley Straw is considered the "gold standard" baseline diet for a healthy, adult donkey. It tastes better than wheat straw and is easier to chew. It provides just enough daily energy to maintain a normal weight when fed free choice alongside a vitamin and mineral balancer. However. It's difficult to find in the U.S. as feed, so Wheat Straw is the next best thing when you can't access Barley.

SOME CAUTIONARY WORDS:
* Always inspect the straw for leftover grain heads. Grain seeds are extremely high in sugar and starch, which can cause sudden weight gain or dangerous digestive issues.

*Never feed long-fiber straw (Wheat or Barley) to elderly donkeys or those with poor, worn down, or missing teeth. This could result in colic, which could become lethal. Use short, chopped fiber alternatives (like chaff) instead.

08/31/2026

Courtesy post for a previous adopter. Located just north of Airway Heights, WA (Spokane).

Unfortunately they just lost one of their sweet long eared boys from a bonded pair and are looking for a new buddy, preferably a male. Buckley is very lonely and stressed from the loss of his friend.

Hoping our community can help out this little guy.

08/13/2026

07/13/2026

SURRENDER ISN'T GIVING UP-IT'S GIVING HOPE ❤️

Life happens. We're here for the donkeys when it does.
Declining health, relocating, financial strain, divorce, a death in the family — whatever the reason you can no longer keep your donkey, you're not alone, and neither are they. Give us a call today and let's talk.

With a decade of hands-on experience rehoming donkeys of every size, from Mammoths to Minis, we're ready to help. We will never let a donkey in our care fall into an abusive or neglectful home, or worse, into the kill-pen pipeline. Bring them to us instead, and we'll give them a real safety net.

What we do for every donkey:
*Keep their routine as close to normal as possible, so the transition feels less like upheaval

*Address any veterinary, farrier, or training needs before rehoming, so the next home is set up to succeed

*Vet every prospective adopter carefully — they must know proper donkey care, and demonstrate they can approach, halter, lead, and pick up and clean all four hooves before they take a donkey home.

*Do our best to honor any specific requests you have for your donkey's next family or environment

*We can't share the new owner's contact details, but as a courtesy, we'll let you know once your donkey has been adopted — and pass along any updates we receive, so you can rest easy knowing they're safe.

The Hardest Decision an Owner Can Make-
When Love Means Choosing What's BestMinis.

Jason & Raesha White, Mangers

Healing Hearts Donkey Shelter And Refuge
Mobile/text:
Jason-(206) 913-3986
Raesha-(206) 818-9046

Email: [email protected]

07/10/2026

Our HH donkey shelter and refuge in Riverside, Washington is currently hosting three donkey guests as officials have issued a Level 3 "Go Now" evacuation order for an area west of Okanogan due to a wildfire advancing north on Pogue Mountain Thursday evening. Many community members have actively volunteered to assist in any way they can. It’s heartwarming to witness the empathy and compassion that often characterize our rural communities when disaster strikes. My heart goes out to those who have lost their homes, animals, or loved ones.

07/07/2026

Although Donkeys originated in arid, desert climates, Domestic donkeys can succumb to heat stress and dehydration just as fast as any other animal when temperatures spike.

Donkeys can drink up to 10% of their body weight in water each day during hot spells. Keep fresh, clean water in the shade so the water stays cool and refreshing to encourage drinking.

If they aren't drinking enough, adding a splash (for a 5-gal. bucket, 1-2 Tbsp; for a 50-gal. tank, 1 cup) of apple juice can coax donkeys to the trough.

Add a donkey-safe electrolyte supplement or trace mineral salt block too, to replace what they lose through sweat.

Steer clear of low, tin-roofed buildings, as they turn into ovens in direct sunlight. If you offer stalls for your donkeys, be sure to secure electric fans safely out of reach, keep the air moving, and chase off biting insects.

Donkeys with light coats or pink skin sunburn easily. Dab pet-safe sunblock on exposed, sensitive spots like their muzzles and the tips of their ears.

Brushing out the leftover winter coat daily lets skin breathe and helps them cool down faster.

Freeze a tub of water with carrots, cucumber, or apple slices inside. It's enrichment and a portable cool-down all in one.

Hose them off gently by starting at the legs and chest and working up. Be sure ALWAYS to let the hose run a minute first so you're not blasting sun-baked, scalding water from the line on them.

Save riding, training, or farm work for the cooler hours early in the morning or late in the evening, never in extreme heat.

Donkeys are stoic — they hide pain and discomfort until they're seriously unwell. Call your vet immediately if you see:
• Heavy, rapid, or labored breathing
• Flared nostrils
• Lethargy
• Unusual sweating (especially neck and base of ears)
• Loss of appetite
They could be suffering heat stress.

While waiting for the vet, wrap ice packs or frozen water bottles in towels and place them in the armpits and groin to help bring their core temperature down quickly.

Stay cool out there, and keep an eye on your long-eared friends.
—
Paulette Quiroga-Jacklin
Founder/Director
Healing Hearts Donkey Shelter and Refuge- North Central Washington Region

07/02/2026

Q: What are your thoughts regarding grazing muzzles?

A: The Donkey Sanctuary is not an advocate of grazing muzzles. The sanctuary's primary reasons against their use include poor fit, the risk of them developing depression and hyperlipaemia, preventing donkeys from practicing social interactions like mutual grooming, and causing dental damage.

We don't use grazing muzzles here at Healing Hearts Donkey Shelter and Refuge because we found they don't fit properly around their muzzles (their heads are shaped differently from horses') and cause rubbing sores, and we also don't want to take the risk of damaging their teeth. But most important to us is that we try to keep their lifestyle as close as possible to what is natural for them, and grazing muzzles are definitely not natural.

We manage our donkeys' weight through portion control, safe, controlled grazing, adding wheat straw (because we can't get barley straw where we're at) to their diet, and using a drylot.

I think grazing muzzles are more a matter of personal taste and personal opinion. I'd love to hear other views on this topic. I invite you to share your own thoughts.

06/28/2026