Who are we?Hi and welcome to the Long Ear Sanctuary (LES). My name is Charlotte Washington, and along with my partner, family and friends, we help run an equestrian center for donkeys, mules, and exotics such as zebra and other hybrids. Our center offers an educational outreach program, both out and in-patient training services, free or reduced vet care, and as a last resort, re-homing.
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Our Educational Outreach Program
LES provides educational resources to address issues that may arise in owning or caring for Long Ears and Exotics. Whether they are for future owners or current, or even animal welfare providers, it is important to understand these animals are not like horses, so the same methods and expectations do not apply to them. We offer clinics at our partner ranch, as well as travel to host clinics and attend speaking engagements. Our primary concern is being able to address these issues so that our long ear friends can stay in happy healthy homes.
Learn About our Training Services
Depending on the needs of the client, we offer training at your home or at our partner ranch. Many new owners do not realize how different owning a Long Ear or Exotic is. And unfortunately accidents happen. Along with our educational outreach services, we offer training, for both human and animal, to help prevent these accidents before they occur.
Need Help with Vet Care?
We have partnered with a local equine clinic to help assist the Long Ear and Exotic community. Arizona has a large population of Donkeys, some run wild, others are feral but are accustomed to humans, and the rest are pets. While donkeys are fairly resistant to disease, there are some things that can affect them, and others that may cross specie lines. We want our donkeys to be happy and healthy, and we want to help our community with that as well. We understand that a vet bill can seem daunting to a family, so we offer free or reduced services for those who need it. We offer free neutering for Jack Donkeys.
Providing a Home for your Donkey
As a last resort, if our education, training, and vet care have not aided in providing a better home for your Long Ear or Exotic, you may surrender your animal and we will either provide it with a home at LES or find them another home. We provide a safe alternative to auction houses, and will actively attend them. Donkeys that have special needs often find permanent residence at LES and become one of our Ambassadors that act as greeters at the farm or teachers when we go to events.
LES provides educational resources to address issues that may arise in owning or caring for Long Ears and Exotics. Whether they are for future owners or current, or even animal welfare providers, it is important to understand these animals are not like horses, so the same methods and expectations do not apply to them. We offer clinics at our partner ranch, as well as travel to host clinics and attend speaking engagements. Our primary concern is being able to address these issues so that our long ear friends can stay in happy healthy homes.
Learn About our Training Services
Depending on the needs of the client, we offer training at your home or at our partner ranch. Many new owners do not realize how different owning a Long Ear or Exotic is. And unfortunately accidents happen. Along with our educational outreach services, we offer training, for both human and animal, to help prevent these accidents before they occur.
Need Help with Vet Care?
We have partnered with a local equine clinic to help assist the Long Ear and Exotic community. Arizona has a large population of Donkeys, some run wild, others are feral but are accustomed to humans, and the rest are pets. While donkeys are fairly resistant to disease, there are some things that can affect them, and others that may cross specie lines. We want our donkeys to be happy and healthy, and we want to help our community with that as well. We understand that a vet bill can seem daunting to a family, so we offer free or reduced services for those who need it. We offer free neutering for Jack Donkeys.
Providing a Home for your Donkey
As a last resort, if our education, training, and vet care have not aided in providing a better home for your Long Ear or Exotic, you may surrender your animal and we will either provide it with a home at LES or find them another home. We provide a safe alternative to auction houses, and will actively attend them. Donkeys that have special needs often find permanent residence at LES and become one of our Ambassadors that act as greeters at the farm or teachers when we go to events.
Charlotte Washington, founder of the Long Ear Sanctuary, standing in the yard with some of the new foals. These jennies are actually part of Blue Agave Ranch's breeding program.
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Why do We Have Exotics? Arizona allows anyone to own a Zebra, but that doesn't mean you should. Like donkeys, many people end up buying a Zebra, and think they can be treated like horses. Because there are no laws preventing people to keep Zebras, those which are turned into us are provided a permanent home at LES. Some are surrendered willingly, others are removed by the ASPCA, and some are bought from exotic auction lots. Any rescued Exotic is not used in the Blue Agave Ranch breeding program. Those exotics that are used at BAR come from a well established and long lived breeding program spanning back 3 generations of breeders. However because BAR has such a long history in handling and caring for exotics, they are able to provide a permanent home for any that LES may receive. |
Want to help?
My partner and I bought Blue Agave Ranch with creating LES in mind. We wanted to design it for sufficiency with minimal overhead. While our other businesses help offset some of our costs, and we do not take a salary or wage from LES, there are still some necessary business expenses which can’t be avoided in a professionally managed non-profit.
Cost of Feeding We have 50 acres set aside for harvest, with currently 10 acres in production. Each acre of Grass Hay can support 9 donkeys for the year. We store what we need to keep our animals fed, and then sell the extra to help offset our costs. Some of our extra is sent to our foster parents, or put back into the community through our outreach services. Half of the planned 50 acres will be Alfalfa production with the intention to sell. Currently we are not fully operational, but within the next few years will will have all 50 acres up and running. Vet, Dental and Hoof Care The initial cost for each donkey that comes into LES is at least $360 for vet check, vaccines, microchip, worming, dental care, and farrier work. Gelding is an extra $250. After that, long term vet and farrier expenses average out to around $220 if there is no major ailments. LES also offers free and reduced vet care for clients that need it. One program that we fully fund is the Gelding program. By the end of 2017 we will have built a stationary farrier clinic with plans for a mobile truck in the works, and a small Veterinary Diagnostic Clinic on the grounds. Cost of Everyday Supplies Each donkey gets a collar that designates their name, gender, and any special needs they may have. These along with halters, lead ropes, brushes, muck rakes and many other things make up some of the day to day expenses for their upkeep. Each donkey has a mineral block in their yard, as well as a number of them hidden throughout the pastures. |
Ways you can help
Donate Toys!A bored donkey is a dangerous donkey. Not that they would hurt you, but they could get into things that hurt themselves. So we make sure we keep a number of toys on hand for them.
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