8/10/15

Travel Tuesday - Bonaire's Donkey Sanctuary

Happy Travel Tuesday Everyone!! 
This week we are wrapping up our Caribbean travels with a visit to a very special place!
I'll hand things over to our tour guide, Flo, to tell you more!!



Thank you Miss Dory!!
Today we are going to visit a very special place in Bonaire where they take care of Donkeys!!
Arty, would you tell your friend that, no, we will not be using his services today, we will be riding in the back of your pawrents truck!!
Let's go Arty!!!



This will give you an idea of how the donkeys and goats just run free around the island! There are packs of goats and herds of donkey's everywhere!! This is one of the reasons the Bonaire Donkey Sanctuary was founded.


 The Donkey Sanctuary was founded in 1993, by a couple in Bonaire (Marina Melis and Ed Koopman), to help donkeys in need. You see, donkeys were originally brought over by the Spaniards in the 1700's to help with farming. Later they were used by the salt miners to help "harvest" the salt. Unfortunately, with the advancement of technology, the donkeys were abandoned. They roamed the island largely on their own to multiply. With the arid climate, and lack of vegetation to donkeys suffered from starving and thirst. Add in the increase of motor vehicles and, well, we think you can guess the outcome.
(click HERE or on the Donkey Sanctuary Button to visit their website and learn more!)
The Bonaire Donkey Sanctuary has made it a priority to spay and neuter all donkeys brought into the sanctuary. They help sick and injured donkeys and take in all pregnant females to ensure the safety of their newborns! Above, we have a three day old foal and his Mama (on the left) and one of his nannies welcoming him!


Right now they have over 400 donkeys in the sanctuary and many, many more that are still roaming the island!!

 Just look at this little guy eating some lunch!!




"sniff, sniff"
 What is that we smell??


CARROTS!!! They aren't just for bunnies, you know!!



Look at those beautiful eyelashes!!





Here is a movie we made of our ride feeding the donkeys!!
You can also go to YouTube and watch it by clicking 
HERE


Thank you so much for sharing our trip to Bonaire with us! We had a great time, but it was nice to come home and see the rest of our pack!

Next week we start a series of post documenting our travels around our own state of California!!



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21 comments:

  1. Kinley WestieAugust 11, 2015 at 12:44 AM

    How cool!

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  2. JulieAugust 11, 2015 at 1:58 AM

    Wow, what a great place!
    Oh I do wants to haf an Iguana of my very own!
    Loves and licky kisses
    Princess Leah xxx

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  3. ♥Mona + Prissy + Angel Weenie♥August 11, 2015 at 4:42 AM

    Wow!! That looks like it was a great trip. Wish we could have gone there too.

    Love ya.......Mommy's girls

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  4. ♥Mona + Prissy + Angel Weenie♥August 11, 2015 at 4:42 AM

    Wow!! That looks like it was a great trip. Wish we could have gone there too.

    Love ya.......Mommy's girls

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  5. UnknownAugust 11, 2015 at 4:42 AM

    PAWsome, or should I say HOOFsome?!?!

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  6. My GBGV LifeAugust 11, 2015 at 5:28 AM

    OMD! My mom is nuts for goats and donkeys! She thinks they are so fun and cute, although stubborn. What a great post and love the photos!

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  7. easyweimaranerAugust 11, 2015 at 5:42 AM

    wow the one behind your car acted like a racing horse :o) it's great that they have a place like that sanctuary... and thanks for inviting me to your trip, it's great that we have good places litke this one for animals on our slice earth :o)

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  8. MadSnapperAugust 11, 2015 at 6:46 AM

    i loved the video and i teared up a little while watching the donkey follow the truck, so glad they have the sanctuary for them. I would love to visit them

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  9. UnknownAugust 11, 2015 at 7:38 AM

    Oh Dory, you video was wonderful. Look at all those beautiful donkeys. I am so glad they started the sanctuary to help them stay healthy and safe.
    Oz

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  10. Yamini MacLeanAugust 11, 2015 at 7:39 AM

    Hari Om
    Hey there Minis - that was an extra special outing to end the trip - thank you so much for taking us along with you!!! You are the best tour guides. Hug and wags, YAM-aunty xxx

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  11. My Mind's EyeAugust 11, 2015 at 7:48 AM

    SPLENDID POST OMDonkeys my mom would love some donkey eyelashes!!
    YAY for the folks caring for them.
    We have a colony of wild horses near Corolla, NC on our Outer Banks....they too were brought over by the Spaniards to help with work in the new world.

    hugs madi your bfff

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  12. MurphyAugust 11, 2015 at 9:15 AM

    Now when you asked what the smell was we thought you were going to comment on an obvious issue. We have found that there are many islands where an abundance of animals raom free. There is a Greek island where there are a million cats roaming free, can't recall the name this minute, and in Athens dogs roam among the ruins. The odd thing is that they are not aggressive as "rescue" groups feed them on a regular basis.

    Your Pals,

    Murphy & Stanley

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  13. MargAugust 11, 2015 at 9:49 AM

    You were so right, Dory, Mom loves this post. It is so much fun to see the donkeys all nice and free. What fun to go feed the donkeys. What a great trip you had. You all have a great Tuesday now.

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  14. stellaroselongAugust 11, 2015 at 10:09 AM

    What a cool drool place, we think those peoples have great big hearts!
    stella rose

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  15. Matilda the BoxerAugust 11, 2015 at 11:02 AM

    Oh wow, I bet it was FUN hanging out with those donkeys!

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  16. The Army of FourAugust 11, 2015 at 3:13 PM

    Oh, geez, now you've done it! Our mom wants a donkey now! I wonder how much room it will take up in the bed?
    Cammie!

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  17. LBJAugust 11, 2015 at 4:19 PM

    What a wonderful thing they are doing for the donkeys! We so enjoyed sharing the adventures with you.

    Abby ab

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  18. ♥♥ The OP Pack ♥♥August 11, 2015 at 6:33 PM

    A sanctuary for donkeys!!! How wonderful of those who run it. PHantom always loved to visit the mini donkeys up the street from us - we bet he would love to have gone on that ride with you.

    Woos - Ciara and Lightning

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  19. Ruby Rose and the Big Little Angels 3August 11, 2015 at 6:59 PM

    Thank you for taking us to that wonderful spot. We really enjoyed it. I think we enjoyed it more looking at your pictures then we would going there. We kind of think it might smell.

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  20. Tweedles -- that's meAugust 11, 2015 at 7:49 PM

    That donkey used to live at my house!
    love
    tweedles

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  21. Poodle At PlayAugust 11, 2015 at 9:52 PM

    This sounds like a very awesome rescue...we loved seeing all those donkeys safe and sound there. Thank you for sharing it with us.

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