Adopt one of the herd

How it works

1. 1

   Join the Crew

   Adoption opens up at Donkey Parent Club, $50 a month. That money is not symbolic. It is the feed, the farrier and the vet for the animal whose name you are about to choose.

2. 2

   Sign in with Patreon

   One tap, no new password. Patreon confirms your membership and sends you straight back to where you were.

3. 3

   Choose a donkey and name them

   Browse the herd, pick the one who catches your eye, and give them the name you will know them by. That is the name we use from then on.

4. 4

   Follow how they get on

   Photos, video and notes from the people who feed them every day, on your own page for your donkey.

Before you commit

Does the donkey come to live with me?

No. This is a virtual adoption. Your donkey stays here at the sanctuary in Leoma, Tennessee, with the people and the other donkeys they know.

Can I visit the donkey I adopt?

Yes. We host farm visits, and there is nothing better than meeting them in person. Get in touch and we will sort out a time.

What happens if I stop my membership?

Nothing happens to the donkey. They stay, they are cared for, and you are welcome back whenever you like.

Can I adopt one that is already adopted?

Each donkey has one adopter at a time, so the gallery marks who is taken. There are usually plenty still looking.

Where does the money actually go?

Hay and feed, farrier visits, worming and vaccinations, vet care, and the fencing and shelter that keep them safe. We are a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit.

What happens if my donkey passes away?

We tell you ourselves, by email or phone, before anything changes on your account and before we announce anything publicly. Then you choose: carry on in their memory, supporting the herd at the same tier, or move your sponsorship to another donkey you pick yourself. Their page stays up permanently, marked In Loving Memory, with the name you gave them.

What if my donkey goes to a permanent home?

Some of the herd do go on to homes of their own, and that is the happy ending we are hoping for. You hear it from us first, and the choice is the same: carry on supporting the herd, or move to another donkey. Where the new family is willing, we pass on their news and photos. Their page stays up, marked Adopted Into a Home.

Does the name I give stay with them?

Yes, permanently, unless you ask us to change it. That holds after a donkey passes away and after they go to a home. A few founding donkeys have names locked in our records that cannot be changed.

What if I miss the message?

Nothing moves without you. If we do not hear back within fourteen days, your sponsorship carries on exactly as it is and we get in touch once more.

The last four are set out in full in our Sponsorship Continuity Policy.