dolly

As temperatures were breaking heat records across the country, and the lethal wild horse and burro roundups raged in Wyoming, we dedicated ourselves to saving some more beautiful souls. While arranging a haul for a mustang, Hank, from Oklahoma, I went on the kill pen page to see who else we could help. I found Dolly, a hugely pregnant jenny, and her jack companion, Domino. We thought at first that he might be the father, but when we received the paperwork, we saw they came from different places. Biological father or not, we got them out of there as quickly as possible to avoid any further exposure to infections that run rampant in kill pens and are often fatal for donkeys, especially babies.

They were in the best of hands with our wonderful hauler, Steve. He drove them through the night to keep them cool and avoid the crazy 4th of July traffic. We chose our previous ranch in Malibu for their quarantine as there are no longer any other equines in residence. Once there, they received veterinary attention. Dolly finished her pregnancy in the peace of a Malibu summer, where the marine layer and ocean breezes keep the temperatures mercifully cool until afternoon.

We were able to put a halter on Dolly while she was inside the trailer, but it took a while to coax her out. These things take time and patience, of which we have plenty when it's for their good. Donkeys are extremely cautious and sensitive. They stop in their tracks to assess an unfamiliar situation. Their intelligence and instincts for self-preservation are often misread as stupidity and obstinacy, resulting in mistreatment. At Skydog, we respect them as the sentient beings they are with feelings, emotions, friends, families, and fears. We don’t rush them into making decisions. They are surrounded with love, only love, from now on.

Dolly may have been hesitant about getting off the trailer, but she wasted no time diving into the good food in her bin. When I placed my hands on her, I was shocked by how thin and bony she was; emaciated aside from the big baby she was carrying. Her coarse and rough coat were another indication that she’d not been getting any nutrition. l worried for the baby, but I knew getting them here quickly to the best medical care was the greatest chance they had.

Dolly quite obviously looked as if she was about to give birth as the baby was hanging very low. We hoped for some time before delivery to build her up so she could produce the all-important colostrum for nursing. It’s all about good food, vitamins and minerals for the health of the mother and foal. Knowing the clock was ticking, we were super focused on making sure Dolly was relaxed and getting plenty of everything she needed. It was wonderful to see just a couple days later that she and Domino were rolling in their pen.

During the night between July 15-16, 2024, Dolly gave birth a beautiful baby girl. What a joy it was to find Pepper, her all-black foal, resting in the soft, clean bedding of her stall. She was up in no time on wobbly legs and successfully latched onto her mother. We could see she was nursing, but sometimes skinny, starved mothers can’t produce the protective antibodies, so their milk is just milk. To be absolutely sure Pepper was getting the colostrum she needed, the vet, Dr. Merle, did a blood test and confirmed all was well!

All mothers are different and Dolly wants her privacy. We had to watch them closely in the delicate, early days, but we kept a respectful distance for Dolly’s comfort. At first, she wouldn’t nurse while humans were around, but when they were alone in their stall, she allowed her foal to drink all she wanted. Thankfully, Pepper has been very healthy all along and we have not had to intervene. Today, Mom approvingly nudges little Pepper over to us for scratches and cuddles, though she herself will only approach for cookies. Soon, they will move to the other ranch where our Malibu volunteers will work their magic and Dolly will learn how kind and loving people can be.

#skydogdolly

 Helping Mustangs & Burros

In addition to supporting our work by donating, becoming a patron on Patreon or sponsoring a Skydog, there are several important pieces of legislation to protect American equines currently moving through Congress. It only takes a few minutes to contact your Rep and Senators and urge them to support these bills:

Save America’s Forgotten Equines (SAFE) Act of 2023 (H.R. 3475 in the House / S.2307 in the Senate). This bill will shut down the slaughter pipeline that sends some 20,000 American horses and donkeys to savagely monstrous deaths in foreign slaughterhouses every year.

The Wild Horse & Burro Protection Act of 2023 (H. R. 3656) This bill will prohibit the use of helicopters or fixed-wing aircraft in the management of wild mustangs and burros on public lands, and require a report on humane alternatives to current management practices.

Ejiao Act of 2023 (H.R. 6021). To ​​ban the sale or transportation of ejiao, a gelatin made from boiling donkey skins, or products containing ejiao in interstate or foreign commerce, which brutally kills millions of donkeys primarily for beauty products and Chinese medicine.

You can Contact Members of Congress by calling the Capitol Switchboard (202) 224-3121‬, submitting contact forms on their individual websites, or sending one email to all three simultaneously at www.democracy.io

See our How to Help menu for other actions to ban zebra hunting at US canned hunt ranches, stop production of Premarin & other PMU drugs, and defund the Adoption Incentive Program.