"Teaching a child not to step on a caterpillar is a valuable to the child as it is to the caterpillar"
-Bradley Miller
Just one of the many quirky little signs posted around the donkey sanctuary here in Guelph; and in case this was news to you: well, it was to me as well...who knew?! A donkey sanctuary, right here in Guelph -and the good news is: they open their gates to the public on a regular basis.
Apparently this is the first year they have decided to host an open house during the winter months, and even though I've not experienced the area in the warmer points of the year, it was a picturesque way to spend an afternoon. Crisp with fresh fallen snow, the semi-secluded ground of the sanctuary offers a peaceful graze for donkey and man alike - it struck me as an absolutely perfect scene to share with my niece, had I only known better before signing onto the trip.
Momentary regret aside, the company with which I was able to share this experience was both enjoyable and fortunate, since one in my party had since volunteered on the grounds. It was a great learning experience into something that we should all know much more about. As home to 59 donkeys, 4 goats, a couple of sheep and some mules I didn't get the head count for, this sanctuary serves as precisely what its name implies for these animals.
Fostering to animals from all over the globe, the sanctuary provides a happy and healthy home to creatures once abused, forgotten, abandoned and worse. Each with his or her own personality, the donkeys are approachable by the public, with volunteers close by to answer any questions. Donkeys, as I learned from a kindly volunteer, for example, are very smart creatures; they will not do or go where they don't want to and will not simply bow to the order of a human voice. "If what you are doing is decidedly stupid, they simply will not do it." Stubborn as a mule, it seems, is more of a testament to intelligence than its reluctance.
But I digress, I shouldn't ruin the learning experience for those who haven't been, and there are plenty of opportunities to drop in. This Wednesday they are hosting another open house from 10:00-4:00, a great way to eat up an hour with the kiddies while they are out of school. It's free to those who choose, but a small donation is suggested, the proceeds of which go directly into the nurturing of the animals and their habitat.
In addition to simply stopping by, they also love volunteering hands on Saturdays, as well as yearly adoption plans to help keep the protection going.
It's not something you may casually think of doing, but it's fun, it's close by, it's for a good cause, and who doesn't love a petting zoo?!
Cheers all!
Phil
http://thedonkeysanctuary.dev.openject.com/visit-us
-Bradley Miller
Just one of the many quirky little signs posted around the donkey sanctuary here in Guelph; and in case this was news to you: well, it was to me as well...who knew?! A donkey sanctuary, right here in Guelph -and the good news is: they open their gates to the public on a regular basis.
Apparently this is the first year they have decided to host an open house during the winter months, and even though I've not experienced the area in the warmer points of the year, it was a picturesque way to spend an afternoon. Crisp with fresh fallen snow, the semi-secluded ground of the sanctuary offers a peaceful graze for donkey and man alike - it struck me as an absolutely perfect scene to share with my niece, had I only known better before signing onto the trip.
Momentary regret aside, the company with which I was able to share this experience was both enjoyable and fortunate, since one in my party had since volunteered on the grounds. It was a great learning experience into something that we should all know much more about. As home to 59 donkeys, 4 goats, a couple of sheep and some mules I didn't get the head count for, this sanctuary serves as precisely what its name implies for these animals.
Fostering to animals from all over the globe, the sanctuary provides a happy and healthy home to creatures once abused, forgotten, abandoned and worse. Each with his or her own personality, the donkeys are approachable by the public, with volunteers close by to answer any questions. Donkeys, as I learned from a kindly volunteer, for example, are very smart creatures; they will not do or go where they don't want to and will not simply bow to the order of a human voice. "If what you are doing is decidedly stupid, they simply will not do it." Stubborn as a mule, it seems, is more of a testament to intelligence than its reluctance.
But I digress, I shouldn't ruin the learning experience for those who haven't been, and there are plenty of opportunities to drop in. This Wednesday they are hosting another open house from 10:00-4:00, a great way to eat up an hour with the kiddies while they are out of school. It's free to those who choose, but a small donation is suggested, the proceeds of which go directly into the nurturing of the animals and their habitat.
In addition to simply stopping by, they also love volunteering hands on Saturdays, as well as yearly adoption plans to help keep the protection going.
It's not something you may casually think of doing, but it's fun, it's close by, it's for a good cause, and who doesn't love a petting zoo?!
Cheers all!
Phil
http://thedonkeysanctuary.dev.openject.com/visit-us
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