DONKEY AWARDS CEREMONY

On Sunday night I witnessed what I will go on record as saying was the worst Academy Awards ceremony ever. " Why did you continue to watch if it was so bad?" you ask. I guess for the same reason that I glance over at a car crash as I drive by even though I know I am going to traumatized by what I see - I just couldn't help myself.

Never being one to miss an opportunity to see the "donkey" in everything, I wondering what our Refuge version of the Oscars might look like. So, in honor of the first little donkey that was the catalyst for the Donkey Refuge as it is today, may I present the First Annual Turtle Valley Donkey Refuge "Maxies".

This years host is none other than our own 2012 Christmas Donkey, Jack.  He is wearing Santa with jewels by Tack Is Us.  Hair and makeup by Snow, Wind, Rain and Brush.      

But first, a strategically placed advertisement by our wonderful sponsor, The Turtle Valley Donkey Refuge.

Has Everyone Reading This Blog Become A Member of the Turtle Valley Donkey Refuge? You Haven't??? Go to www.turtlevalledonkeyrefuge.com and follow the instructions to join us. It is easy and it will make your heart feel good.

Now back to our Awards program!

Best costume - Jack in Sady's pink blanket which kept him warm all winter. He looked extremely unimpressed, but doesn't he always?

Best foreign entry - tie between our Alaska donkeys, Margherita and Hilda. They continue to WOW us as our ambassadors on our road trips to promote the Refuge.  They even participated in the Kamloops Parade and won an award for best float.  They have also visited a senior's center and spent a day at the Horse Barn in Kamloops.  They are such good girls and a treat to play with.

Best jenny in a supporting role - Lady Bug as seeing eye donkey for Sara.  Sara was one of the first donkeys to seek sanctuary at the Refuge, many years ago.  Shirley and Rob nursed her back to health and she has been an inspiration every since.  Last year Lady Bug came to us, also with issues that we are still working to resolve.  We believe she had been used as a roping donkey - a horrible, horrible life - so she is head shy and nervous.  Sara and Lady Bug became instant friends.  We have realized that little Sara is losing her sight so Miss Lady Bug has stepped up to serve as her Seeing Eye Donkey.  Amazing.

Best jack in a supporting role - Jose starring as Hoss' best friend forever.  Little Hoss came to us in terrible mental and physical condition.  Jose, our standard, sight-challenged part pitu donkey befriended him and they have been best buddies every since.  Hoss is very healthy now and is in training to be an ambassador for the Refuge along with Margherita and Hilda.

Best photography conversion - four way tie - Darren Suveyes, Lydia Kendric, Tracy Mercer and our own Shirley Mainprize.  You have seen their work in our Refuge Calendar, Our Cards, Our Newsletters, Blogs, Biographies.........

Best ensemble - The Three Teenies, Timothy, Deena and CocoPuff who arrived early last spring.  Tooo cute.  They were so close that at first they seemed to be one furry mass with twelve legs.  They still stick together but have joined the mini herd and are happy and healthy.

Best crew - The volunteers at the 2012 Donkey Days Event who put on their happy faces and stood in the rain and cold for two long days. Honorable mention to the brave visitors that were not deterred by the rain on Donkey Days.

Commercial Break~ Still Not A Member? Hmmmm!
Best jack in a leading role - drama - Jack in mourning after Sady's passing.  Jack and Sady were together for many, many years.  He knew days before we did that Sady was going to pass and became quite agitated.  Shirley allowed Jack to be with Sady after she passed so that he would know what had happened.  He mourned his loss for many months and I think he still misses her.  I know I do.

Best jack in a leading role - comedy - Hoss learning to shake a hoof and now, to bow.  Shirley has been working diligently to train him and he does really well.  He is a cheeky little guy and a definite crowd pleaser so it will be fun to watch him perform this summer. 

Best jenny in a leading role - drama - Bea leaping into the air and taking a nip out of volunteer Chris' back . Was she acting? Really? Even at the Refuge you don't mess with the Divas. Sequel guaranteed.

Best jenny in a leading role - comedy - Bea leaping into the air and taking a nip out of volunteer Chris' back . After the shock wore off, it was actually pretty funny

Best director - it's a tie - Rob Miller and Shirley Mainprize.  They have been stellar, guiding us through comedy and tragedy.  We are all so grateful for their commitment to the Refuge and its mission, for their dedication and caring for the donkeys, and for keeping it together when we were bouncing off the walls.

Best musical - Jose a meal time, or an time for that matter.  Once he starts to "sing" others join in and we are treated to a wonderful chorus of cele-BRAY-tion.  It is fun at 3 in the afternoon when they are braying for supper but not so fun at 6 in the morning when it is breakfast time.  Each donkey has its own sound - Rob and Shirley can tell each one from the other - but this year the Maxie goes to Jose.

Best picture - Every Picture That Every Person Took At The Refuge.  How could we ever pick just one or two.

In Memoriam
SADY- we thought we might lose her soon after she came to stay with us. She rallied for a few months but we lost her early in 2012.
JORGE - sweet, cheeky boy who left us far too soon
CURLY - our little brown rescue goat
ABBEY - our darling Mirama dog who's hard work kept our donkeys and humans safe for so many years.

In Appreciation
To our visitors, donors, supporters, and volunteers who have been there for us throughout the past year no matter what.

Donkey votes were collected and counted by Chris, proud volunteer and bookkeeper for the Refuge.

Calender of Events;

Hello everyone;  Shirley here.  I thought  I should post our Calender of Events for 2013  just in case you are planning some holidays in our area this year and perhaps hoping to stop by for some time with the donkeys.
  It has been a good winter  here with fairly mind weather.  We still have snow but it  is slowly melting and we are all thinking thoughts of spring. 
The donkeys have enjoyed good health and are looking forward to more sunshine to come to this valley. 
We are planning for a Exciting season and with lots of fun and educational events to be held each month.  We are already booking visits to Seniors Care Homes in our area with Hilda, Margherita, Hoss and Tiny Tim being the Ambassador donkeys for the visits. 
The Refuge also has its own Page on Facebook, just search for Turtle Valley Donkey Refuge Society and Click "Like" to follow our weekly postings as well as to help us spread the word about the Refuge.  We look forward to see you all again this season.  Here is the Calender for your perusal.  Thanks again for all your interest in the donkeys.   Shirley



Turtle Valley Donkey Refuge Society
2013 Season Schedule

March 1- 31st, 2013.-   Sundays Only  Open  -11:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.

    Easter Weekend -  Saturday March 30th and Sunday 31st. Open Hours 11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
                                 Scheduled talks by Rob and Shirley on Donkey Hoof and Health Care
                                 with Donkey Demonstrations.
                                 Coffee/Tea/Hot Chocolate Concession
                                 Admission by Donation


April through Thanksgiving - Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday
                                              11: 00 a.m.- 4:00 p.m.
                                              Admission ;  $6.00 per adult,
                                                                $5.00 per Student and Seniors
                                              
Calender of Events;

Easter Weekend - Saturday and Sunday March 30, 31 - Enjoy Easter with the Donkeys

May 4th - Saturday -  Volunteers to help  Get the Farm ready for the Season; email for more info.

May 11th - Saturday - Spring Fling Fundraising Event - 10: 30 a.m.- 4:00 p.m.
                                   Plant Sale, Flea Market and BBQ Hot Dogs
                                   Meet the new Donkey arrivals
                                   Shop the Donkey Store for something Special for Mother
                                  
June is Seniors Month -  Free Admission on Sundays for Seniors.  Arranged visits to Seniors
                                      Homes in our area with special donkeys traveling to meet the Seniors.
                                      Thursdays  only in June and Limited dates available so Book Early.
                                     
July 2013.                     Canada Day Celebrations in Blind Bay with donkeys attending.

August 2013                 Ice Cream Day at the Refuge Event - date to be announced.

September 7, 2013 -    Pancake Brunch - 11:00 a.m. - 2: 00 p.m.

October 13, 2013  -     Thanksgiving with the Donkeys -  Last Day for Regular Hours in 2013.
                                    Special Events planned for Sunday October 13th.  TBA.

An interesting article in the Refuge eBRAY bulletin

If you are a member of the Turtle Valley Donkey Refuge Society, you receive by email, a copy of our on-line members-only eBRAY each month.  It is full of interesting donkey information as well as a close up look at what is happening at the Refuge.  This is an article from the February eBRAY.

DONKEY TALK

"A Day In The Life...."

"The weather outside is frightful......." seems to the theme this winter at the Refuge. Snow, rain, warm, cold, windy, overcast.   And sometimes all in the same day.

You and I dig out our winter clothing to protect us from the elements. When it gets cold, we put on our heavy costs, gloves, boots and donkey hat (oh wait - that's just me). If it warms up, we take them off. If it snows or rains, we add a water resistant layer which we can remove and dry when it gets wet. Never mind the icy wind that makes us either bundle up or stay indoors. A nice warm shower, and "Bob's your uncle".

In the winter, donkeys grow their own winter wardrobe - a thick, thick coat of hair that is neither waterproof nor wind-resistant. Wet or dry, warm weather or cold, it is there for the season.

So, imagine yourself putting on a thick, heavy winter coat, going outside and literally getting soaked to the skin. Then imagine that you now have to stay in that wet coat, and that the very same thick coat that couldn't protect you from getting soaked in the first place is now somehow thick enough to hold that moisture against your skin so that you remain wet, and likely, cold. Perhaps the heat from the sun could dry your skin - oh wait, it's winter. Or the wind could

wick away the moisture but you do not tolerate cold wind, or any wind for that matter.

Even with access to the shelter of the barns and our amazing new overhang on the Sady and Maria barn our donkeys manage to experience exactly what is described above. The donkeys need to get out from undercover to get some exercise and they don't seem to have to be out in the snowy conditions before they become donkey water sponges.

Some of the donkeys are quite comfy with being wet provided they can get warm in the shelters and eventually dry out. Others just seem to stay wet, and this can cause skin irritations that, although not at all painful for the donkey, must be addressed. One of these skin maladies is called rain rot, or rain scald - horrible names to be sure - which occurs when the equine's wet skin gets no air and thereby becomes the perfect breeding ground for little yeasty beasties. I write "equine" and not just "donkey" because it is quite a common occurrence in horses, donkeys and other equines.

The infection presents as a sort of scaly skin followed by loss of hair in the area. When the hair is gone the skin underneath is pinky and sore looking (I think that may be where the term "scald" comes from). As mentioned, although irritating for both donkey and the donkey's human, it is not painful and can be very successfully treated.
Three of our donkeys have exhibited the symptoms of rain scald thanks to Mother Nature's most curious sense of humor this winter. But, enter Nurse Shirley who, after exhaustive research, has concocted a remedy that is making fast work of the infections. Thanks to her homegrown, all natural remedy, two of the three are good to go and the last is well on her way.

Each donkey that finds refuge here in Turtle Valley comes with his or her unique set of challenges. We are well prepared to deal with the typical physical ones - weight, hoof and dental conditions, known illnesses - and mental or emotional issues (fodder for another Donkey Talk). As the numbers in our herds increases, so does the likelihood that we will see more occurrences of the many typical equine medical conditions such as rain scald. And we are up to the challenge of recognizing and treating anything that comes our way.

The Refuge is on it - thanks to the dedication of Shirley and Rob, the Refuge staff and volunteers, and our professional partners - the equine veterinarian, our wonderful farrier, and our equine dentist. A very special thank you must go to our amazing supporters who, through their financial commitment to the Refuge, fund the care of our donkeys.

And a special thank you to the Vancouver Foundation and individuals who funded the Sady and Maria barn overhang extension and to the volunteers that spent many hours preparing the ground under the overhang. What a stellar team of humans our donkeys have working on their behalf!   HeeHaw.

For more information about the Turtle Valley Donkey Refuge, our web address is www.turtlevalleydonkeyrefuge.com.  You can also contact get in contact by emailing us at donkeyrefuge@gmail.com.

Have a wonderful February and Happy Valentine's Day to everyone from the four-legged and two-legged creatures at the Refuge.