Miniature Donkey Rescue Takes On Christmas Tree Recycling

WESTMINSTER, MD — The Christmas after-party is still ongoing at Little Longears Miniature Donkey Rescue. The four-legged residents at this Westminster farm have been munching on a special treat this new year: Christmas trees.

Donkeys tend to eat a fibrous diet, and some that come to the farm are malnourished, hailing from auctions or owners who could not care for them.

While Little Longears specializes in "minis," the rescue also accepts larger donkeys. Since the owners started rescuing the over-bred miniature donkeys, they found there was a need.

Their 15-acre horse farm is now home to donkeys of all sizes that they can care for and hopefully adopt out to good homes.

This week, they had a visit from WBAL TV, which recorded the donkeys partaking in a little New Year's snack.

"They eat the bark and the branches," Little Longears co-owner Cheryl Pokorny told WBAL.

Pine trees also freshen up the donkeys' breath, co-owner Valerie Lowe added.

That's a good thing, because Little Longears reports they are pretty social creatures.

"They're really misunderstood," Pokorny told the Carroll County Times about the "minis" and donkeys as a whole in a 2016 interview.

"Ultimately, they just want to be loved," she explained.

While some of their residents like this little guy Luke come from conditions of isolation, they start to warm up and make friends at the farm in Carroll County.

Luke arrived Friday, according to Little Longears, and by Monday he was greeting his neighbors.

Those who would like to donate their Christmas trees to Little Longears Miniature Donkey Rescue should email info@littlelongears.org for instructions.

To give other items to the donkeys, whose most common ailment is neglected feet, check out the Little Longears wish list on Amazon or donate on the Little Longears website.

Image from Little Longears Minature Donkey Rescue via WBAL/YouTube.