Oregon Donkey Sanctuary Field Trip

Did you know donkeys are super affectionate, sensitive, and kind? Have you ever snuggled close to a soft, warm donkey and looked deep into two soulful brown eyes? Wanna brush one?

The Oregon Donkey Sanctuary is just chock-full of cuteness and opportunity in all shapes, colors, and sizes--even adorable miniatures! Rhonda and Jim Urquhart's 40 acre farm in Oregon City evolved from a satellite facility for Peaceful Valley Donkey Rescue, fostering and adopting out neglected and abused donkeys to new homes, to the Oregon Donkey Sanctuary in 2021. It quickly received the Oregon Humane Society’s Diamond Collar Award in 2023 and now they're building an equine therapy program.

They'll give us a guided tour where we will learn all about their operation, different donkeys and their backstories, donkey body language and communication--we'll even get to brush and pet them! If our group is large, they'll split us into two tour groups. We'll be walking on flat ground but it is a barnyard, so be prepared to enjoy dust, mud, donkey hair, dog hair, cat hair, and the occasional chicken feather.

NOTE: Donkey's are highly intelligent and keen on self-preservation with excellent personal boundaries. You can call that stubborn if you want, but they know what's what. They will choose you. Please do not feed them anything and make sure you don't have any food on your person. Remember, they are smart as a whip and have a spectacular sense of smell. To that end, please also skip the perfume/cologne today.

The Oregon Donkey Sanctuary is completely nonprofit and volunteer- and donation-driven. The impressive facility is an awe-inspiring labor of love. To preserve this vision, they ask only that you sign an online waiver beforehand and consider making a donation of your choice--you can even sign up to volunteer! They have swag and souvenirs (cash/debit/cc), so you don't have to go home with just pictures.

Please arrive between 10:30 AM and 10:45 AM to check in with me before the tour begins at 11 AM.

Bring $10 cash, some money for donation, water, camera, WEATHER- and barnyard-appropriate clothing including boots for mud. Sign the electronic waiver at this link before you arrive. Restroom facilities on site. Adults only, please, and no pets, thanks.

Video tour of farm

Interview with owner Jim and some sweet donkeys

Some footage I took of our last visit there