The is celebrating its seventh year at a farm in Turtle Valley.

However, the refuge鈥檚 founders, Shirley Mainprize and Robert Miller, aren鈥檛 the only ones celebrating. On May 25, the refuge鈥檚in 2021, .

The refuge, a non-profit operation that provides a permanent home for donkeys in need, has been closed to visitors due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Mainprize, however, is hopeful things will return to normal soon. She said the donkeys miss the extra human contact and that the refuge is looking into having controlled visits in July and August if public health measures allow it.

Despite the pandemic, Mainprize said the refuge鈥檚 donors have been incredibly supportive and that it is running well. There are more than 100 donkeys at the refuge and the founders, staff and volunteers are kept busy providing 24/7 care to the animals.

Mainprize said there鈥檚 a donkey in their care who has a spine curvature problem and that it often needs help to stand up when it鈥檚 stuck.

When Mainprize and Miller got their first donkey in 1999, they had no idea that running a donkey sanctuary would become a full-time job, but they couldn鈥檛 be happier.

鈥淚t was never about creating a paying job,鈥� said Mainprize. 鈥淲e love the donkeys, we love what we do.鈥�

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zachary.roman@saobserver.net
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