donkey sanctuary of canada

Daydreaming

It was a fun outing. Lots of space, a picnic area and a good, fun family activity. Donkeys were cute too!

ThreeGenTravel

Authentic farm, with a twist. Lots of donkeys and burrows that have been rescued. Lovely day if it is not raining. Parking is on the side of the road and you may have to walk over rough ankle turning terrain, but totally worth the joy you will experience meeting these creatures.

kaliki

Glad you enjoyed your visit Kaliki during our special Christmas Opend Days. The Sanctuary is open to the public Weds & Suns May through October and 4 Sundays only before Christmas.We have coffee & hot chocolate and Christmas goodies on those special Christmas Open Days.We do not charge an admissioni fee but suggested donations are $10/adult and $5/child and senior.

484rachels

Fun place to visit for interaction with the donkey. Something you will find the engaging volunteer that will tell you more about the individual donkey something, it's just a nice wandering through a scenic, out in a different world kind of visit.

Zeusthecockapoo

These are really great animals and I'm glad I had the chance to see them close-up. Kudos to all the volunteers who make the sanctuary possible. They also do an excellent job of educating the public about the behaviour and needs of donkeys; they're very different from horses. There are currently about 60 rescued donkeys who are able to enjoy the idyllic pastures and lots of company. Well done.

heathert472

My husband and I had been meaning to visit the Donkey Sanctuary near Guelph over the past months and finally set out this past weekend. It may have been our first visit, but it won't be the last. Set on a beautiful 100 acres, this safe haven for donkeys has something for the whole family. The very personable volunteers shared a wealth of information about donkeys that we had no idea about! Many of the donkeys roam parts of the property and we could pet them, and admire their gentle nature. The animals are obviously loved and well cared for, and so many of them rescued from a life of abuse and brought back to health. It is a moving experience, one that we will repeat. The whole family will enjoy walking the property and perhaps have a picnic lunch at one the tables provided. The sanctuary doesn't charge admission, but please offer a donation to help this wonderful facility and it's residents :). They also have a lovely gift shop where you can buy a little donkey keepsake!!!!Something we should all share in!

Cana1Toronto

Put this on your tyo do list to visit. It's just one of those places you'll be happy you did. The Sanctuary is located in a beautiful setting, very peaceful, nicely treed, There's a pond on the grounds and the area attracts many beautiful birds. There are several barns to house the donkeys in the winter and at night. Here you will find ever so friendly and thankful donkeys. Many were either rescued from abusive situations, or their owners could no longer keep them and they wanted to make sure they found a good home. The Sanctuary takes very good care of them. But donkey's aren't the only residents here, there are also goats, mules, and hinny's. You can see that the volunteers enjoy what they are doing. And before leaving I ended up sponsoring a donkey. There's a lot of work that goes into taking care of the donkeys, who are one of the most sweetest natured animals you could meet. The tours are both very educational and fun. Great for the whole family. Great for schools, or friends. A great way to spend an afternoon. They even have a little souvenier shop with Donkey calendars, t shirts, and other such things. http://www.thedonkeysanctuary.ca/

NeilJ_88

Thoroughly enjoyed this stopover - suitable for the kid in all of us. The donkeys are so well cared for, you can see first hand. The volunteer we spoke with was knowledgeable and had some wonderful facts and experiences to share. We pat some and brushed them too. The setting is so nice. The barns and grounds are well-kept. There is an interesting display of proper care. Loved everything about it.

787kc

What a great experience for both kids and adults! My friends and I wandered around beautiful farmland while petting the calm donkeys and even brushing them! The Sanctuary runs on donations and proceeds from their cute gift shop, and you'll see exactly why the Sanctuary houses 60+ retired and formerly abused donkeys during your visit. The animals are endearing and joy to be around!

Wardair2

The sanctuary has 67 donkeys at the present time..the oldest is over 40 and the youngest was 3 days old. Most of the donkeys had been rescued and have found a wonderful caring environment. Some of the donkeys are wandering the grounds closely watched by the volunteer staff. The children loved brushing the donkeys.There is a nice area available for picnics. Admission is reasonable and all money goes to caring for the donkeys.

338farahb

if you like to go to picnic not too far in the middle of nature with some beautiful animals,such as donkeys ,goats,lambs.this is the place.Nature is breath taking.

ZiggyP248

You'll feel the stress of life melting away in this tranquil setting. Get up close to friendly donkeys who enjoy being groomed. Volunteers and staff are extremely knowledgeable and dedicated to caring for the 70 plus donkeys, mules, hinnies and goats. Bring a picnic to enjoy at benches by the pond. Fun and interesting assortment of souvenirs and gifts in the Long Ears Shop. Check their website for open days which are normally Wednesdays and Saturdays during summer months.

IMPD

I have been to the Donkey Sanctuary 5 times in four years. It is a bit like visiting your best friends: you want to see them at least once a year. I love coming back here. There are two draws. One, of course, is the donkeys, mules, and hinnies. The other is the staff and volunteers. They are knowledgeable and clearly very happy to work here. The love to talk about the animals by name and will provide the "back story" for each animal. They bring the Sanctuary to life. The setting is serene and you can linger as long as you want to. Frankly, I know of no other place like this. I will come again and again, and I will donate to this facility.

kaliki

Took my 3 year old grandson to the Donkeys. He loved them! The welcome centre staffed by very nice volunteers, greeted us as we walked in. Lots of Donkey souvenirs to be had. Opened the door to the pastures, & barnyard. We were able to walk up to the gentle beasts. Petting scratching of ears while the nuzzled you. Very gentle, does not scare our 3 year old. A Christmas treat as we were able to get warm with hot chocolate & snacks. The sanctuary has a learning centre, a couple of barns, and a place to sponsor a donkey. All in all a terrific time spent. There is no charge but a recommended donation box is available.

IanC344

Take the tour and learn how different donkeys are from horses. This sanctuary is for retired and abused donkeys. People treat donkeys as if the were horses, and so they are subject to a lot of abuse because they are very different from horses. They can breed with horses though, each blend quite different, depending which male and female species is in involved. Donkeys originated in Africa, horses in Asia. Donkeys eat straw, horses hay. Donkeys get very sick on a horse's diet. To my knowledge this is the only donkey sanctuary in North America. It used to be a closely guarded secret, but now you can visit any day of the week. I have no idea who funds them, but they have several hundred acres of rolling farmland just outside of Guelph. I've been there twice. It's mostly families who visit. The parking is free. I think there is a minimal entrance fee. The young children seemed to have a lot of fun there. I'm a biologist so I found the difference between horses and donkeys quite fascinating. Donkeys are very subject to abuse, because most owners don't appreciate that.