Brunswick County donkey sanctuary offers rescue, therapy, and second chances
BOLIVIA, NC (WWAY) — For many people, donkeys are simply farm animals. At one Brunswick County sanctuary, however, they serve as companions, teachers, and sources of comfort.
Long Ears Landing is a nonprofit donkey sanctuary and rescue in Bolivia that provides a permanent home for animals in need while introducing visitors to the calming and social nature of donkeys.
“So, I have been a lifelong animal person. Animals… hi, my sweetest boy,” says co-founder and President Karen Watkins to one of the donkeys, Buckwheat.
Watkins opened the sanctuary with her husband last September after developing a new appreciation for an animal she said is often misunderstood.
“This is Buckwheat; he is our- I like to call him our ‘flagship’ donkey. He was the first donkey we had and kind of the guy who started it all for us. They have sort of a bad reputation sometimes of being stubborn and not cooperative, when in actuality, they’re just really smart, and they have a lot of self-preservation, and learning about them and kind of understanding how emotional, social they are just made us want to be able to help as many as we can,” said Watkins.
That appreciation has grown into a herd of 16 donkeys and two mules. Each animal arrived with its own story, including owner surrenders, auction rescues, hurricane survivors and former Amish plow mules.
The sanctuary’s mission goes beyond rescuing animals. Watkins also hopes the donkeys can provide comfort and connection to the people who visit.
She shares the animals’ stories and calming personalities through meet-and-greet sessions and what she calls “donkey therapy.”
“Donkeys, I think, are therapy just in being around them because they have a very calm, easy-going presence that kind of like takes all your cares away,” said Watkins.
Watkins said visitors often arrive knowing little about donkeys beyond their reputation for being stubborn. After spending time with the animals, she said many leave with a different perspective.
“Every single person is like, ‘I never knew, you know, just like chill they are,’ and they really do just kind of make everything better every day for us, but also for introducing people to them and again teaching them that donkeys aren’t what maybe they’re perceived to be.”
Visits and special events also help fund the sanctuary. Watkins said all proceeds are used to care for the animals.
“The cost of those is directly a donation back to the donkeys’ care. So, everything we do here goes back into the donkeys as far as their care, veterinary care, hoof care, and supplies, things like that.”
Long Ears Landing also offers volunteer opportunities, events, and donkey meet-and-greet therapy sessions.
More information is available on the sanctuary’s website.
