SAVE YOUR ASS LONG EAR RESCUE

The mission and overall goal of Save Your ass Long Ear Rescue is to rescue, rehabilitate and re-home donkeys and mules in need. We also provide educational opportunities that create awareness of the human animal bond, as well as the specific needs of long ears.\r\n\r\nSpecific goals include:\r\nIncrease the number of donkeys and mules coming to the Rescue from venues where the animals are in danger of going to slaughter;\r\n\r\nEnsure that each animal is evaluated and, if necessary, treated for temperament, behavior problems and training before leaving the Rescue;\r\n\r\nProvide quality support, education and back up to adoptive families in order to ensure the highest possibility of successful adoptions; and\r\n\r\nIncrease the number of appropriate, adoptive homes for the long ears.

Every animal is examined by a veterinarian when they first arrive.They're given rabies and tetanus vaccine and will have a negative coggins before being adopted. Animals are also given a behavioral assessment at intake. This helps us develop a behavioral training program while at the rescue and to make the best possible match between an animal and potential adopter. Adopters are carefully screened. An adoption contract, references and home visit are musts before an adoption is finalized.\n\nSYA also educates on the specific needs of donkeys and mules. Volunteers set up booths at local events, often accompanied by a rescued long ear, to give the public a chance to interact with and ask questions about the animals. We also conduct presentations and demonstrations at equine shows and events in New England. In addition, we have hosted schoolchildren, interns, 4H groups and community volunteers at the Rescue itself.

Although SYA serves a small segment of the population, its expertise in equine management has long range implications for large animal shelter and care. SYA is well integrated into the larger animal community. Our President, Ann Firestone, is a vet tech who monitors the animal's physical and medical needs. She is also a trainer who works to ensure that all the animals are behaviorally and emotionally ready for an adoptive home. \n\nThe Rescue employs 1 full time assistant in charge of the grounds and physical facilities. She makes sure the animals are safe, secure and well tended at all times. There are 2 part time volunteers who come to the Rescue on a regular basis to provide companionship, sociability and positive interactions for the animals. The Rescue is governed by a 5 member Board of Directors which makes sure the Rescue runs well, has money in the bank and provides the highest quality of care possible. SYA's reputation is stellar throughout the country.

1. A positive reputation reinforced by the many calls, emails and testimonials received daily;\n2. 2-3 requests a year to speak at conferences as an expert in caring for donkeys and mules, including The Donkey Symposium in CA and NEECA in New England ;\n3. An average adoption rate of 35 animals per year;\n4. A waiting list of adopters wanting to adopt an animal from SYA;\n5. The many calls the President receives from the adoption community asking for help with specific issues and concerns of their animals.\n\nWe continue to increase the number of animals we are able to rescue from slaughter houses and situations of neglect and cruelty. They are our highest priority. We also want to reduce the number of animals returned to SYA for behavioral reasons. We will bring more training resources to our adoptive families, and to the equine caring population in general, so that families are better able to care for their animals and keep them at home.