Peaceful Valley Donkey Rescue is a 501(c)(3)[1] nonprofit donkey rescue organization based in San Angelo, Texas. It is the largest donkey rescue organization in the United States with 24 sanctuaries and 26 adoption centers nationwide. It shelters around 3,000 donkeys, providing food, water, medical care, gentling, training, and adoption services.[2][3] The organization has rescued a total of over 8,000 donkeys.[4]
| Formation | 2000 |
|---|---|
| Founder | Mark Meyers Amy Meyers |
| Type | 501(c)(3) Nonprofit |
| Purpose | Animal rescue |
| Location | |
| Website | Official website |
Peaceful Valley Donkey Rescue was founded in 2000 by husband and wife, Mark and Amy Meyers, on their small ranch in Acton, California. It received nonprofit status in January 2001. By October of that year, the organization had rescued 40 donkeys and adopted out half of those.[5] In 2005, Mark and Amy Meyers moved the operation to an almost 100-acre property near Tehachapi, California. By 2006, the property held around 250 rescued donkeys.[6]
In 2008, the organization entered into an agreement with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department to rescue feral or abandoned donkeys in Big Bend Ranch State Park.[7] In 2011, it was responsible for nearly 800 donkey rescues, 700 of which occurred in Texas. In 2012, Peaceful Valley Donkey Rescue moved its main headquarters to a 172-acre facility (a former dairy farm) in San Angelo, Texas. It was operating 15 adoption centers serving 27 states by 2013.[8][9]
The organization earned accreditation from the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries in July 2016.[10] In May 2018, it entered into an agreement with the National Park Service to rescue and remove up to 2,500 wild donkeys from Death Valley National Park and the Mojave National Preserve as part of the Wild Burro Project.[11][12][13]
References
edit- ^ Lindgren, Stephanie (February 17, 2016). "Peaceful Valley Rescues Over 200 Miniature Donkeys From One Location". San Angelo LIVE. Retrieved July 4, 2018.
- ^ Burnett, John (June 18, 2017). "Amid Growing Threats, Donkey Rescuers Protect The Misunderstood Beasts Of Burden". NPR. Retrieved July 4, 2018.
- ^ Yossifor, Yfat (January 15, 2018). "Peaceful Valley Donkey Rescue grows to 24 sanctuaries, 26 adoption centers". San Angelo Standard-Times. Retrieved July 4, 2018.
- ^ Lawlor, Vera (July 21, 2017). "Why This Couple Is So Passionate About Rescuing Donkeys". Care2. Retrieved July 4, 2018.
- ^ Fausset, Richard (October 15, 2001). "Rescuers Help Ease Burros' Burden". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 4, 2018.
- ^ Burger, James (June 25, 2006). "Couple get a kick out of donkeys". The Bakersfield Californian. Retrieved July 4, 2018.
- ^ McLeod, Gerald E. (May 30, 2008). "Day Trips". The Austin Chronicle. Retrieved July 4, 2018.
- ^ Gordon, Ed (September 3, 2012). "Tehachapi donkey rescue is relocating". The Bakersfield Californian. Retrieved July 4, 2018.
- ^ Hyde, Joe (December 25, 2013). "Saving Donkeys". San Angelo LIVE. Retrieved July 4, 2018.
- ^ "Peaceful Valley Donkey Rescue earns accreditation". Desert Valley Times. July 14, 2016. Retrieved July 4, 2018.
- ^ Brean, Henry (May 17, 2018). "Park Service signs deal to round up Death Valley's wild burros". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved July 4, 2018.
- ^ Nehrenz, Teri (March 8, 2018). "A blustery day for the burros". The Mesquite Local News. Retrieved July 4, 2018.
- ^ "Peaceful Valley Donkey Rescue to Lead Death Valley's Wild Burro Project". PR Newswire. November 21, 2017. Retrieved July 4, 2018.