02/06/2026
The worst neglect we see of donkeys and mules comes from people using them as livestock guardians.
Why?
Often, people hope to just toss them out without maintenance into a herd of goats, cattle or other livestock without access or budget to a farrier or vet.
This is cruel.
Many times, they will not make sure the animal has been castrated or handled, so they end up with a very feral animal that grows up unable to receive care. Sometimes they have a pair and just keep making more and more that can't be caught or given care.
Most people looking for livestock guardians don't realize donkeys need special rain and snow protection. They are desert animals. They do not thrive in cold and wet. Some weather conditions easy for cattle and horses are too hard for donkeys without special shelter protection given.
Donkeys do not need lush grass or grain. They can't have it. Either or both spell disaster for a donkey. They are meant to browse on low quality forage over lots of desert land. Founder and metabolic conditions are almost assured if they are loose on nice grass and/or get into grain These conditions destroy life quality.
Jacks or Jennys with young will often attack and kill goats and calves. It happens a lot. They like their own kind. They don't usually bond to other livestock. They can kill household dogs, too, and sure, sometimes, coyotes. But they can also be killed by predators, just like other prey animals.
Our first vet at the rescue taught that donkeys, once foundered, due to their hoof shape, can have a harder time recovering from severe rotation of their coffin bone. But many donkeys sold as livestock guards aren't trained to even receive farrier care or vetting, so if rescued, helping them timely can seem impossible.
Please take care to be an educated owner. You can help improve the lives of these animals by simply being aware.
