Written by Rebecca West Images courtesy of THAC
Tucson Mayor Regina Romero has officially proclaimed May 8 to be World Donkey Day. The proclamation includes no less than eight “Whereas” segments, including how donkeys historically played a crucial role in Arizona’s 1800s mining boom while serving as pack animals transporting supplies, tools, and ore across the rugged desert terrain. Unfortunately, when the mines closed, many burros and donkeys were abandoned to fend for themselves.
But fear not. They and others of their kind—stretching back to early missionary days—have managed to adjust here in the Southwest reasonably well, even though they are not indigenous to North America. In fact, in the wild, they have become something of a nuisance and are considered invasive in many areas. But animal rescues are working on alleviating that.
Descended from the African wild ass and other wild ass species dwelling in the deserts and savannas of North Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, and the Middle East, donkeys were first introduced to the Americas by Spanish colonists in the 1500s. They are actually credited with speeding up the advancement of civilization, with new research suggesting that human beings tamed wild donkeys roughly 7,000 years ago. That’s approximately 3,000 years earlier than the suggested timeline for horse domestication.
Today, there are an estimated 50 million donkeys on the planet, and they remain just as important to agriculture and transportation as ever in many parts of the world. Besides toiling under heavy loads, donkeys are recruited for endeavors like guarding sheep and other livestock.
As the proclamation points out, they have often suffered mistreatment, overwork, and exploitation, but there are growing efforts on a global scale to protect donkeys through sanctuaries, advocacy, and education programs to shift perceptions and ensure that donkeys receive the compassion and care they deserve.
One example is The Forever Home Donkey Rescue and Sanctuary in nearby Benson. Established in 1998, it’s a nonprofit dedicated to rescuing, rehabilitating, and providing lifelong care for donkeys in need. The sanctuary offers a safe haven for those who have been neglected, abused, or considered otherwise unadoptable, ensuring they receive the compassionate treatment they deserve.
More recently, rescues and other groups are employing them as therapy animals, and those lucky enough to be a part of it live a pretty cushy life filled with love and hugs, proper nutrition, adequate levels of drinking water, and, of course, medical care. One such group is The Human-Animal Connection (THAC), a Tucson non-profit devoted to changing the perception of donkeys from “beasts of burden” to profound partners in healing.
On January 19, after months of waiting, building, and preparing, THAC welcomed two lovely mini-donkeys, Miss Lilly and Rosie, who were picked up in California and driven back to Tucson, where they now happily reside. To make the trip less stressful for the two, Paloma Baertschi, an animal communicator from Switzerland, was employed. The two were said to be completely calm en route “as if they knew exactly what their destiny was as healing donkeys with The Human-Animal Connection.”
THAC goes on to point out that Miss Lilly and Rosie are a bonded pair that “teach us so much about how a loving connection can lead to a sense of safety and peace. They will share it with everyone who comes to spend time with them.”
To date, THAC’s work with therapy donkeys is said to have helped people from ages 1 to 85, cancer patients, high school students, veterans, 911 Operators, and survivors of sexual trafficking. The program is free for Veterans, Active Duty, First Responders, Health Care Providers, and anyone feeling stress in the line of duty.
Animal therapy can provide a wide range of health benefits for mental and physical well-being. Interacting with animals has been shown to reduce stress, anxiety, and depression in humans of all ages. It also improves mood, significantly lowers blood pressure, and even increases social interaction, among other benefits.
According to THAC executive director Genie Joseph, Ph.D., World Donkey Day is being celebrated at Brandi Fenton Memorial Park – Ramada 6, from 12pm-2pm on May 8 this year. Free to the public, celebrants have the chance to “share a pet, a cuddle, a selfie, or a moment of sweetness with a donkey” while they’re there.
For more info, go to thehumananimalconnection.org.
Watch this incredibly sweet YouTube video courtesy of THAC here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?
To learn more about the evolution of humankind’s relationship with donkeys, visit https://theanimalrescuesite.
