Johnnie - SPONSORSHIP ONLY Donkey Donkey Elkhart Lake, WI

JOHNNIE On November 19, 2013 Johnnie the donkey received a gift from an angel named Lorraine—a second chance to survive the horror of a slaughterhouse. Sundew Saves Horses pulled Johnnie from a feedlot in Pennsylvania. Founder, Lorraine tried vigilantly for several weeks to find someone to step up and save him from his harrowing fate. Lorraine’s mission is pulling a handful of equines headed for death, and promoting their stories and photos for an allotted number of days in the hopes that “someone” will want to offer a safe place for them to reside.

Johnnie was “last man standing” and headed to the “truck” when AGES was able to step up to the plate and save him on December 3. So started Johnnie’s journey from feedlot to the stable at Sundew Saves in NJ for quarantine.

His journey here was hampered by several difficult weeks of snow, ice and a “polar vortex” that kept his transport delayed for a while. Sheriff Johnnie – as we so named him – arrived on AGES soil at 3am in the midst of a frigid, blustery and subzero night on January 5, 2014 and we saw pretty quickly that the ailments/injuries poor Johnnie exhibited were that of a donkey that had been used as a “roping dummy.”


Donkey roping is a cruel and completely unnecessary “sport.” Donkeys are anatomically different from cattle, and their bodies cannot stand up to the rigors of roping the way a steer’s can. They are often injured, sometimes seriously. Donkeys are gentle, intelligent creatures and, by nature, are very trusting and this activity also does a lot of mental damage to these gentle creatures.

Johnnie had a 20-degree rotation of the Coffin bone in one of his front hooves and about 15 degrees in the other due to years of neglected hoof care and founder episodes. He also was infested with lice, has limited vision due to cataracts and probably a rear hind stifle injury. Additionally Johnnie had breathing problems due to throat injuries- it took months for him to “bray” (hee-haw) Johnnie has now had regular care for his hooves and teeth, he is interested in his surroundings and being with his Equine friends ? He can now comfortably chew hay and grain, things he had great difficulty with when he arrived.

Today Johnnie trots around with his head up and greets the day with energy and a lot less pain. Sheriff Johnnie is “in charge” of greeting all guests who arrive here at AGES and searches for any “contraband” of carrots or treats anyone might be trying to get passed him! Johnnie is about 20 years old and will remain here at AGES as a permanent resident.

He’s sweet and patient and we want to give him the best life he can have as a permanent resident of AGES! Your monthly gift as a sponsor to Johnnie will not only help provide his regular needs including feed, supplements, hay, farrier, and veterinary care, it will help AGES ensure that Johnnie will never again go without having his special needs met again!

We thank you so much for your help, and so does Johnnie!