WANT TO BUY OR ADOPT A DONKEY ?

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All Cypress Farm Donkeys sale proceeds and PDHR adoption fees support , Purple Donkey Human Rescue,  501(c)3 Non-Profit Organization  © 2023 by Purple Donkey Human Rescue. Thank you 

We try to return calls and emails as quickly as possible. The following information will answer many of your questions and allow you to prepare answers to our questions when we speak. This helps us place the right donkeys with the right people. We are all about education and hold seminars at our farm regularly for people interested in donkey care. However, we are a PRIVATE GATED RESIDENCE so we see people by appointment only! Please schedule your visit ahead of time we do not take walk ins. 

Unless you are a breeder with an established reputation we definitely give preference to people who take the time to visit our farm. Our donkeys are family members who can live to 50 years of age. We encourage you to learn about us and we want to get to know you before placing our animals.  

CONTACT: We are best reached by text at 704-649-2491 and can then set up a FaceTime, zoom or call after you review the following information. 

There is far more misinformation than accurate information about donkeys floating around in the world. The BIGGEST MISCONCEPTION is that donkeys are GUARDIAN ANIMALS (NOT TRUE !!) While donkeys are highly territorial, they will unfortunately often harm or even kill goats or other small animals in their area. They can not defend themselves against dog and coyote attacks. If this is your goal, please acquire guardian dogs. See this link but caution it is graphic Chantelle's Story A great resource for accurate information is The American Donkey Association 

Donkeys are highly intelligent and highly social animals. Your donkey may love you and they may tolerate and come to bond with other animals over time. Donkeys are herd animals who rely on each other for communication and protection and they have their own language. For a donkey to be truly content and HEALTHY, a donkeys should have an appropriate donkey companion. Equine must have another equine partner in order to get proper REM sleep. A lone donkey will never be at ease without a donkey (not just a horse) partner to watch over them. Have you seen those tik tok videos of single donkeys going crazy for toys? Unfortunately that is not a cute donkey but a very neurotic, unhappy donkey. Responsible breeders will not sell single donkeys into a home without  another appropriate donkey companion.  The American Donkey Association 

 JACKS: We only sell intact jacks to established breeding programs. Jacks are NOT PETS and can change drastically and even become dangerous as they mature. Most are very sweet with experienced handlers after they are trained but they are a loaded gun. They must be housed separately from jennets and sometimes even geldings. If a breeding pair is together they should be removed from the jennets area long before her foal is due to avoid tragedy. Jacks will kill calves and goats. THEY ARE NOT PETS OR GUARDIAN ANIMALS this is a misconception. We cannot say this enough. 

 PRICE: Our donkeys usually range in price between $2900-$6500 with the cost of wooly and some micros being significantly higher. This is by far not a money making operation. We give our donkeys excellent care, have a professional staff who handles our donkeys daily and all proceeds go to our 501c3 Purple Donkey Human Rescue. 

Learn about Donkey Care

https://cypressfarmdonkeys.com/donkey-101 (https://cypressfarmdonkeys.com/donkey-101)

https://donkeyrescue.org/news/pvdr-ears/the-reality-of-donkeys-housed-with-other-livestock/

Please see this article regarding the history of donkeys it’s one of the most informative articles available :

https://www.americandonkeys.com/history-of-miniature-donkeys 

DONKEYS ARE NOT GUARDIAN ANIMALS  Chantelle's Story / Caution some images are difficult to see

http://www.rollingdfarm.com/summer-1.html

Donkey Care and Welfare / The worldwide experts 

https://www.iowdonkeysanctuary.org/care-and-welfare

 OUR GOALS: We want to place our donkeys in homes that are not only loving but have sound equine support and have an exit strategy for our donkeys if your life should change. DONKEYS CAN LIVE TO BE 50+ YEARS OLD. We ask that owners place their donkeys in their will. Who will care for your donkeys if anything should happen to you or when your donkey outlives you. Please know that if anything should ever change and you cannot care for a donkey we are happy to have them back in our care. 

We will not sell or place a single donkey in a home without another appropriate donkey companion.  

Please note that NO responsible breeder will do this and if they do agree to this then consider it 

"A SIGN " We encourage people looking for horse companions to acquire 2 miniature donkeys as this is by far a more successful situation for you, your horse and the donkeys. We are happy to discuss the benefits of this when we speak to you. 

Our donkeys will arrive up to date with shots, worming and come with a vets health certificate and negative coggins. They will be good citizens who are used to handling, pick up their feet and walk on a lead. NOTE: please be patient with donkeys when they arrive at a new home. It generally takes time and patience and care for them to trust you as their new person. Some are quicker than others but plan to spend lots of time with your new donkeys. They are very social animals used to being around a lot of other donkeys and people. It can take a month or more for them to start coming around and enjoying their new environment. Buyers are responsible for transportation but we can suggest and assist you with scheduling transportation. 

All jacks will be GELDED prior to being placed in their new home unless you are an established breeder buying a herd sire. jacks are NOT PETS. We can't say this enough. 

 DEPOSITS: We will NEVER ask for a deposit over the phone or electronically before we encourage you to visit our farm and meet our animals. Scams are rampant and deeply persuasive. We discourage everyone from ever sending deposits on line from photos. Once you have met your donkey and we identify it’s the correct fit then a 50% non refundable deposit (unless we are not able to deliver a healthy animal) will be accepted by Zelle, Venmo, PayPal, certified check ( in person please do not mail certified checks) please note that all proceeds from the sale of donkeys or adoption fees for rescues (when available) go to support our 501c3 Purple Donkey Human Rescue. 

Please be prepared to discuss the following before you call or email your inquiry for a new donkey. We receive 5 and 20 calls a week for donkeys. We really need you to do your homework first and be prepared to answer at least most of these questions before we talk. Thank you !

SPACE:

1. Do you have an appropriate size lot ?  1 acre per donkey is necessary. Do you have a dry lot area in addition to pasture? Donkeys will develop laminitis and founder if placed on lush grass for long periods of time. They are foragers not pasture animals like horses. Excess grass, alfalfa hay and other terrific horse environments and feeds are not appropriate. People looking for horse companions should consider this. FYI Sweet treats can also be detrimental as they require few calories. 
2. Do you have NO CLIMB FENCE to dissuade predators and keep your donkeys safe. DONKEYS ARE NOT GUARDIAN ANIMALS we can’t say that enough. http://www.rollingdfarm.com/summer-1.html 
3. Do you have 3 sided shelter for donkeys? What is the size, height and flooring ? Donkeys are not waterproof and must have shelter in the rain. They tend to get pneumonia far more than horses in the winter if wet and cold. they love warm weather but still require shade. 
4. Do you have a stall area or something gated off to vet your donkey or keep them still and quiet should they ever get injured? Donkeys don't love to be stalled especially alone. They prefer a shelter where they can go in and out. But a time will come when you need to seperate or put your donkey up for any number of reasons. Please be prepared. 
5. What is your animals drinking water source and is it protected from freezing in the winter ? Donkeys like horses will only drink clean water. 
6. Is all electricity protected ? Equine can die from very small amounts of electricity.
7. Do you have shade in the summer. 
8. Have you removed harmful or toxic trees and shrubs from the area ? 
9. Have you thought about "DONKEY PROOFING" your barn or home ? Donkeys love to chew on everything. They will eat a wooden barn, patio furniture, plastic toys and skin a tree like a beaver. 

EQUINE VET: 

1. Who is your Equine Veterinarian. We will verify that you are a registered client of an equine vet prior to transportation. 
2. Are your current equine and other animals up to date on vaccines and worming ? Have they ever had a coggins performed ? Do they leave your property? Are they on a worming program ? 

EXISTING ANIMALS ON YOUR FARM:

1. What size and sex are your current donkeys ? 
2. GOATS unfortunately more often than not the very territorial donkey will harm a goat in its space. Be prepared to separate donkeys. Donkeys are sometimes fine with goats but there is NO guarantee they will consistently be patient with other animals. We will not sell donkeys to folks with goats unless you have a separate area for them. Please don't tell us "you saw it on you tube" then call us crying when your donkey kicks or bites and injures your goat.  

FARRIER:

1. Who will trim your animals ? Sometimes it’s difficult to find a farrier. If you don't have one start looking NOW. You can tell your farrier that our donkeys easily life their feet and are used to regular trimming. 

HAY & FEED PREPARATION 

1. What do you plan to feed your donkeys and do you have a source for hay. Please confirm that prior to delivery. We feed a low protein low sugar feed like strategy or Nutrena Special Care 

Thank you for reviewing this information. We look forward to speaking with you. If you have questions or comments we can connect next by phone, text or email and hopefully arrange a visit. 704.649.2491 egrillo@purpledonkey.org