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The following is from Save Your Ass Long Ear Rescue:

Dear SYALER friends,

It’s another cold one today but I am feeling very grateful… I’m not living on Mt. Washington, in Northern NH where the temperature was MINUS 78 degrees this morning!!! I’m also very grateful for all our wonderful supporters who have already helped us get closer to our end of the year fund raising goal of $35,000.

I’m writing to encourage any of you reading this who have not yet made a donation to please do what you can to help. Reach underneath those couch cushions and send what you find! Every bit really does make a difference. Our supporters are the best. I have become friends with so many who have adopted from us, who donate to us and even those who just call for advice in dealing with issues they may be having with their donkey or mule. Making these friends is a huge bonus of the job.

We currently have one, fantastic, full time paid employee. But we have reached the point in our growth that in order to sustain the level of care the animals require and deserve, another part time employee is needed. With the new tax laws taking effect donation write offs will be subject to change. So NOW is the time!

Every penny we receive goes toward the care of the animals. Again, I am very, very grateful for the funds raised thus far. Please, on this last day of the year, do whatever you can do to help us continue our mission.

I wish everyone all good things in the coming year. May we see more peace, love, and kindness toward each other as well as our animal friends.

Ann

President & Shelter Manager

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SYALER eNewsletter

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The following is from Save Your Ass Long Ear Rescue:

Good Deep Freeze Afternoon SYALER Friends,

Mother Nature has offered us the splendor of a snow-covered landscape and the glinting beauty of ice-coated trees this final week of 2017. But she is also challenging us with these continued days of sub-zero temperatures.

Doing anything outdoors right now is difficult if not dangerous. Seeing to the daily needs of numerous rescue donkeys and mules in this extreme cold is downright dreadful.

There is good reason to worry more about the herd as this bitter cold can cause colic among other things. Ann must venture out regularly to make sure the heated water troughs are always topped off. She maintains separate heated water sources containing electrolytes and in these brutal, arctic days keeps hay in front of every animal 24 hours a day. Just the three draft mules alone are going through half a dozen bales of hay a day at $5.50 each!

Ann and Hannah have also been making hot mashes for the long ears consisting of herbal-tea-soaked hay stretcher pellets and a handful of black oil sunflower seeds. All of this plus the usual chores requires Ann and her help to be outside more often for long stints and it is NOT easy.

On top of the cold and extra weather-related tasks, yesterday the farm tractor seized up and is currently awaiting pick up by the “tractor ambulance.” Who knows what THAT will cost??! Then one of the big water heaters died with a nearly full tank of water, the barn camera kicked the bucket and the “bad ass” mules ripped the big, heavy door off of the tack room! In warmer weather these things would be annoying, maybe even somewhat humorous. When you’re working outdoors on a windy 12 degrees below zero day, they are a nightmare.

Suffice it to say that this severe weather is sapping the Save Your Ass coffers and sucking the life out of Ann and her workers. We REALLY need your financial help right now!

I know that Ann is sick with worry about the animals in these severely cold conditions. Knowing that donations are coming in so there will be enough hay in the barn and enough money in the budget to fix the tractor will help the animals, help Ann worry less, and help ALL of us who care about these noble long-ears great and small.

You still have TWO days to make a tax deductible donation to ensure we can provide the SYALER rescue animals with what they need as well as what the humans need to keep things running smoothly.

Let’s shoot for the Hay-O-Meter to reach $20,000 by midnight tomorrow! Pitch in whatever you can. It all makes a difference.

Thank you and a hearty Happy New Year 2018 to each of you.

-Elise Paffrath

SYALER board member

Donations can be made by using the “Donate” button in the left column, on our website:  http://saveyourassrescue.org/donate.html, by sending a check to SYALER, 23 Saw Mill Road, South Acworth, NH  03607 or by using the “Donate” button on our Facebook page.

SYALER eNewsletter

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The following is from Save Your Ass Long Ear Rescue:

 

Dear loyal SYALER friends,

As I write this Ann is out doing chores this frigid night, lugging hot water from her house to make mashes for the animals who get them, carrying and spreading hay for each group so every donkey and mule has access, graining and medicating those who need it, filling water troughs (yikes, don’t let the spigot run over and cause a skating rink now!) and most importantly checking that each animal appears bright and healthy as the day flips from dusk to dark.

In that manner, Ann works her way around to all four barns until every creature on the farm is fed, watered and content.

Come daylight, she will do it all again and hope once chores are complete she has the energy to go back to scoop manure and add fresh shavings so her charges can be as comfortable as possible.

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While she has an amazing employee to help her, Ann is in the trenches caring for these lucky beasts day-in and day-out.

Rain or snow or heat or hail, there will always be Ann on the job delivering food and care to every rescue animal on the property.

Ann is not a salaried CEO. She gets paid in brays, nuzzles and eventually down the line… happy adoptions. Her commitment and dedication is out of love. Love for the animals and the mission. That sounds noble and heartfelt but the reality is that caring for a farm full of long ears is HARD work!

So while we need hay and we need vet care to be paid for, I am appealing to you tonight to send donations that will make Ann and Hannah’s job of caring for these animals 365 days and nights a year just a little bit easier.

Toward that end, please consider Long-Ear-Marking your year-end donation for:

*      A new run-in shed – to make care easier

*      A farm truck – always helpful when needed

*      Electrical updates –  a matter of safety

*      Part-time employees –  everyone deserves a day off

I believe it is immensely important that SYALER supporters give what they can to help keep the LABOR involved in daily care of the animals sustainable.

Thank you!

Elise Paffrath

SYALER board member

Donations can be made by using the “Donate” button in the left column, on our website: http://saveyourassrescue.org/donate.html, by sending a check to SYALER, 23 Saw Mill Road, South Acworth, NH  03607 or by using the “Donate” button on our Facebook page.

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SYALER eNewsletter

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The following is from Save Your Ass Long Ear Rescue:

Ears the news…

It seems as though summer is in a hurry to leave. This morning was downright chilly. Fall is definitely in the air. The donkeys and mules feel it too. There has been a lot of running and bucking and farting happening in the pasture today. I have been getting calls from folks who are going to be needing to surrender their animals before winter comes. We have had a good summer for adopting out animals, with three donkeys and the adorable mini horse we have going to their new home shortly.

We have five animals in the rescue currently, four standard donkeys and a hinny, who all need a lot more training/handling/behavioral work done with them before they will be ready to be put up for adoption. We work with them almost daily, but it’s been slow going with this group. I am confident that they will come around in time, but in the mean time they need to eat and have their feet trimmed and receive veterinary care and it’s putting a strain on our bank account.

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Those of you whom have been getting this newsletter for any amount of time, know how much I hate having to ask for help. I try not to do so unless we are in a pinch. We are not there yet, but heading that way, so if anyone can make a financial donation of any amount it will be very gratefully appreciated. Once the animals can no longer be on pasture our feed bills go up and I don’t feel right if we don’t have a “cushion” in case of an emergency veterinary issue arising. Our cushion does not have much stuffing in it right now. I thank you in advance for any help you might be able to offer. All donations are tax deductible.

Our annual Donkey and Mule Benefit Fall Festival will be held in Alstead at Millot Green again this year. The date is October 7th. I hope to see a lot of you there. It’s such a fun day. We will be having a big booth at Equine Affaire again this year as well. The dates for that are November 9th-12th. I hope to see many of you there as well. Both gigs are like an old home day reunion. I love seeing folks that I only get to see during these events. Equine Affaire comes on the heels of the Donkey Welfare Symposium again this year so hopefully I’ll be able to answer everyone’s donkey questions with new found knowledge!

chEARS,

Ann

President & Shelter Manager

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Ears in the news

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The following is from Save Your Ass Long Ear Rescue:

Wow! How did it get to be July already?  It was a very long winter and spring here, with a lot of animals waiting to be adopted.  I’m very happy to say that we now have a much more reasonably sized group of individuals and bonded groups looking for new homes. Big thanks to all of our recent adopters!  I’m sure this roll will continue.

We had a lovely turnout and nice day for our first of what I hope will be many Clicker Training workshops with Lyndsey Lewis. Lyndsey is great at teaching people as well as animals.  It was a lot of fun.

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Dedicated volunteer Mike Dunham has been making extraordinary progress with our two very shy donkeys Blossom and Daisy. The two standard donkeys came in from separate owners, but bonded immediately.  They both came in too shy/fearful to be handled at all.  Rather than create more fear, we work slowly with only positive reinforcement.  Mike is now able to touch Daisy over most of her body, take her halter off and put it back on and lead her on a loose line.  This may not seem like much, but for a donkey who was too afraid to come within ten feet of a human, this is HUGE!  Blossom is coming along nicely as well, although not quite as quickly as her friend Daisy. One of our mottoes here is: “It takes as long as it takes”. We will get there!

It’s time once again to submit your photos of your favorite long ears for the 2018 Save Your Ass Long Ear Rescue Calendar!

We invite you to join us in putting the “fun” back in fundraising, with our 2018 photo contest! The calendar will feature your photos of your donkeys, mules, and hinnies.  The calendar will be offered for sale on our website and at event booths.  Our volunteer judges will select their 13 favorite photos from all submitted to be featured on the cover and for the 12 months.  All other photos will appear in the calendar in smaller format.

To submit your entry:  Email your photos to syacalendar2018@gmail.com.  In your email, please include your name, the name of the animal(s) in the photo(s), and a couple of lines describing your long ear(s). Rename your files in the following format: Smith_Ann_Eeyore.jpg.  The contest closes on August 15, and winners will be announced on September 1st.

You all know how I feel about fund raising <G>, but it is critical if we are to pay for veterinary bills, farrier fees, food and shelter for our rescued long ears.  SYALER had found new homes for more than 450 animals since 2007.  Funds raised through this contest and the sale of the calendars will enable the Rescue to continue to provide these much needed services for long ears in need.  For additional information and tips on photographing for our calendar, go to: http://www.saveyourassrescue.org/calendar.html

I look forward to seeing everyone’s pictures!  I love when I’m in the post office, where the 2017 SYA Calendar is on the wall, and hear people in line talking about the animals.

chEARS,

Ann

President & Shelter Manager

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Ears in the News

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The following is from Save Your Ass Long Ear Rescue:

I think spring is finally here! The mules are shedding like crazy and I saw a little sparrow with a long piece of mule tail hair in its beak heading into the willow tree. The mud has dried up for the most part and we are in full swing getting things spruced up for our upcoming TENTH! Anniversary Open House on May 13th . I hope you can make it! Details are on the website and SYA’s Face Book page.

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It has been a very busy few months here. I have had to take back animals that had been adopted into wonderful, loving homes, due to a variety of reasons. I am very good at sticking to my boundaries regarding how many animals to admit to the rescue. If I burn out there is no more SYALER so I need to adhere to my own rules. But….I guess some rules are made to be broken. I got a very sad email concerning a gentleman with stage 4 cancer having to give up his animals as he was heading into the hospital with no plans being made for him to leave. I am so glad I agreed to take in seven of his animals so he could have the peace of mind of knowing his beloved animals would be safe and well cared for when he was no longer able. He passed away less than a week after we picked up his animals.

While I am grateful that I did take in his seven animals in addition to the other three that had to come back, one of those being a huge, Belgian mule with a big appetite, it has put a huge dent in the ol’ bank account. All of the seven needed to be vaccinated, have blood drawn for Coggins testing, will need to see the farrier soon and all will be seeing the vet for much needed dental work this week.  That, in addition to major overhauls being done to the existing fencing of the rescue, which has been in place for over twenty years, we have had a few other big projects on tap trying to spiff things up in time for our open house.

All of these factors lead me to once again do what I hate to do most; ask if you folks can help out a bit with a donation.   I’ve never been good at asking for help, although necessity really is the mother of invention or at least the mother of forcing one’s hand! I thank you gratefully in advance for any help you may be able to offer.

I hope you will be able to make it to our open house. In addition, we will be hosting a day long clicker training workshop with clinician Lyndsey Lewis on June 17th. There will be room for 12 attendees. More info will be available on the website soon.

chEARS,

Ann

President & Shelter Manager

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