Editorial Note: This is part of a series that profiles the recipients of Lady Freethinker’s Urgent Need Fund 2025 grant program. The program was created to support nonprofit organizations involved in animal rescue and care, as well as those that promote better animal treatment. If you’re interested in learning more about the program, click here.
Eleven donkeys — five babies and six mothers — rescued from a California roundup are enjoying new fencing and shelter, thanks to a $9,982 Urgent Need Fund grant from Lady Freethinker to Donkey Dreams Sanctuary in Littlefield, Arizona. The group is named the Pegasus herd and is happy to be living together peacefully, receiving plenty of care and affection.
The Pegasus Herd (Lady Freethinker)
This all-volunteer sanctuary cares for more than 100 wild burros and donkeys rescued from slaughter and roundups. A core part of its mission is to keep animal families intact and honor the deep bonds within herds.
“Staying connected for life is simply in their nature,” Donkey Dreams CEO and Co-Founder Amber Raleigh told LFT. “Offspring are raised within a nurturing network of friends, siblings, and cousins, where wild burro families eat, play, and live together always.”
Everest and Teo (Lady Freethinker)
The donkeys the sanctuary rescued were initially rounded up after local authorities in California deemed them unwanted, with the babies set to be separated from their mothers at just six months old. Fortunately, Donkey Dreams stepped in to offer them all a lifelong refuge where they could remain together.
However, the temporary area created for the donkeys wasn’t large enough for the growing foals, prompting the sanctuary to reach out to Lady Freethinker about expanding and improving the space.
Huck (Lady Freethinker)
Now, the donkeys will have two new shade structures and additional space to protect them from extreme weather, reduce overcrowding, better reflect their natural living environment, and keep the herd together as a family.
Lady Freethinker is deeply grateful to our supporters, whose generosity helped ensure this herd of donkeys has the space and protection needed to thrive. With your continued support, we can help many more animals in need around the world.
