Dusty & Benji’s Page
Dusty and Benji are two miniature donkeys that came to Whisper Ranch for sanctuary. They have become Holly’s “pets”…they live in her pasture and she is very bonded to them.
If you have read Holly’s page, you know it has been a real challenge getting weight on her and keeping her as stress free as possible due to recurring ulcers.
We have tried to separate them from her, but she looses her mind and runs for hours calling for them and basically freaking out. That is a surefire trigger to an ulcer episode. So they are sanctuary residents, too.
They are fatter than is optimal for donkeys. This is very common among domestic donkeys because many folks do not understand the differences between the dietary needs for horses and those for donkeys. Donkeys tend to be significantly overfed and many of them end up foundered as a result. Dusty and Benjy need to be managed carefully so they can – hopefully – get back to a healthy donkey weight.
In the meantime, we are enjoying their antics and very sweet faces 😉