My friend's donkeys are sooo happy & well cared for at this sanctuary! They spend their summers here at "donkey camp" & they just LOVE it. The owners & volunteers give them so much love & the best care possible. My friend is never worried about them & wouldn't consider boarding them anywhere else.
I was totally temporary disabled while on an out of state trip. I called Forever Donkey and they drove 4 hours each way to pick up my donkeys and keep them until I could get around again. They were my and my boy’s angels! It is such an amazing place. The feeling you have when you leave there is incredible. It’s such a laid back happy place with a very happy assortment of donkeys.
I visited Forever Home with a friend for the first time last spring and immediately fell in love with all the donkeys as well as the people who care for them. I went back a month later with my husband. He wasn't interested in going so I basically had to drag him there, but within minutes he fell in love too. We were so impressed with the place that we decided to become monthly donors. It's so rare that you get to see how a non profit works up close, and we feel really good to know exactly where the money is going and how it is helping. We only wish we lived closer so that we could also become volunteers!
What a wonderful time my family had visiting this sanctuary! We were so impressed with all the animals and learned so much about them. I can't wait to go back!
We heard about this donkey rescue while camping in Benson, and went to visit. It was the best! Meeting all the donkeys, hearing the stories and learning so much. We specifically went back to Benson the next year, to visit the donkeys again. This time we brought treats to donate, especially animal crackers. If you are ever in the area, definitely go visit this rescue. It's awesome!
I visited twice and both times tish and John were so welcoming. i got to learn each of the donkeys stories. they are well taken care of and very loved. highly recommend a visit.
When my husband and I started searching for an area to retire, we knew we needed to be close to where we want to volunteer and spend time. Since donkeys are my favorite animal, we called to see if we could come over and see what Forever Home Donkey Rescue was about. We were delighted to be invited for a tour and see all the amazing work everyone does within the sanctuary. They are a hardworking and dedicated team, who share their love one donkey at a time. Looking forward to our retirement - AND signing up to volunteer!
Such a beautiful place and home for these Donkeys in need! We recieved a tour and you can just feel the love for these animals! It’s absolutely incredible what they are doing for these sweet animals in need.
I first experienced Forever Home Donkey Rescue when they visited the Mescal Movie Set for the Cowboy Christmas event in late November 2022. I was immediately impressed with their mission and vision. It was easily apparent that each donkey had its own unique personality and the caretakers knew and treated each one as an individual. We took our grand children and visited Forever Home in March of 2023 for their open house. John and Tish, along with Suzanne, are gracious and engaging hosts. They take the time to make every visitor feel welcome and they love to share the story of each donkey. The kids loved the time we spent there. They learned so much and had fun while learning. They got to feed the donkeys and pet them. I would encourage anyone to take the trip to Forever Home Donkey Rescue and spend some time enjoying the donkeys and their human companions. The openness of the property and the remote location are good for the soul and it’s a great place to slow down for a day. A special shout out to Kate and Ryan Montgomery, who volunteer at Forever Home, for helping make my grand children’s visit a day to remember.
My husband and I have visited this wonderful facility two different times and we are very impressed on how much these animals are loved and well taken care of. It is a special place run by special people and these animals are so fortunate to be there.
This is an amazing place. So many people involved in caring and providing for these Donkeys. The time and money they put into this place is heart warming. I was so glad to have had a chance to go out there and see this place. The donkeys are so friendly too. This is a perfect non profit organization - top notch.
My Mom and I were taking a road trip from Phoenix. We wanted to explore the southeast area of AZ. After a stop in Benson for lunch we went to the visitor center, and I asked the lady there if there was anything we could do in the area that involved animals. She gave us a brochure for Forever Home Donkey Rescue and Sanctuary. I was amazed it was free, and called that afternoon to set up an appt to visit. When we got there I was overwhelmed by the stories of the donkeys that had been saved from horrific conditions. As a person with PTSD, I felt an odd kinship with the symptoms some of the donkeys had that paralleled my ptsd symptoms. And the couple that started the rescue were so kind during the tour, it wasn’t rushed and you could feel their genuine desire to help the donkeys and educate us about the plight of donkeys. Visiting the rescue was the highlight of that trip. That was in 2014. I have since been back 2-3 times a year, to visit the place, pet & give treats to the donkeys, brush the donkeys, and just enjoy the amazing space they have there. I have found the donkeys and the rescue to be therapeutic for me. It’s a very peaceful and beautiful place. The people who care for the donkeys are wonderful and I appreciate that they allow me to spend so much time there when I can. One donkey that wouldn’t let people touch them or even take a treat from your hand in 2014, has since come so far. She will now take treats from your hand and lets the people from the rescue touch her and work with her. To me, this shows how the people running this rescue have worked with the donkey on her terms to gain trust and help this donkey (and so many other donkeys) to know that people can be ok.
Some donkeys have such horrifying stories it’s amazing that they are still loving and gentle creatures towards people. I love this place, the donkeys, and the people who care for them. And again, it is so apparent that the people do it for the love they have for the donkeys and education of the public. This is shown in many ways, one being that they do not charge for tours. I have told a lot of my friends about the rescue and those who have gone to visit are instantly in love with the place. I wish I lived closer so I could visit more often.
I have volunteered with forever home for 2 years. I moved to the USA from Australia then my husband deployed for over 12 months. John, Tish and Suzanne took me in and I became part of the donkey family. I love going out and helping and just having time with these amazing people and donkeys. I found my spirit donkey Siggy who will always have a special place in my heart. I experienced once in a lifetime events with burro racing and such a wonderful community of people. We moved due to military but will be going back to visit as soon as I can. They aren’t just an awesome rescue they are my family.
We were looking for something to entertain my roommates elderly parents when they came to visit from New York. Stumbled on info about the Donkey Sanctuary and called to schedule a tour. What a great experience! Very informal, informative and fun. The people that run this rescue are real heroes.
In 2019 I came out for a tour and began volunteering. There is so much love for the donkeys and mule they have on the property. The care the donkeys receive on a daily basis is amazing. Mucking stalls, grooming, hiking, and special events/parades are all the things I get to do with and for the donkeys. An amazing rescue with amazing volunteers.
Forever Home Donkey Rescue is a great, fun place ! I was able to visit there, and even got to help !
I visited this wonderful place several times when I accompanied my sister, who is a super volunteer, there to help out. It is an amazing haven for all the donkeys who were lucky enough to end up there. Tish, John and Suzanne are great people and are so committed to the Forever Home. It was fun and rewarding helping out those few days!! I’m from Michigan and wished I lived way closer! The Benson area is so blessed that they have such a loving and caring group of people that take such great care of Gods creatures! Thank you Forever Home!!
I absolutely love this place! I wish I lived closer because I would definitely volunteer.
The donkeys are so loved and healthy. The caretakers are the best! I felt so welcomed and learned allot about these beautiful creatures! Stopping here was one of the best parts of our cross country trip!
We were in the Benson, AZ area for a short visit and stumbled across Forever Home. My daughter and I went out to volunteer for a half day and fell in love with the place! Dragged my somewhat reluctant husband back a few days later for another day of volunteering and he was very impressed. John and Tish are such interesting people and they welcome visitors with such warmth and hospitality. You can tell that Forever Home is their life's passion. And the donkeys....superstars! Each with its own unique personality. Highly recommend!
Tish, John, and Suzanne are just amazing people. Their passion for making the world a better place for donkeys in turn makes it better for us humans too!
My husband and I feel so welcome at their Sanctuary. They take the time to educate visitors so we can in turn go out and make others aware of the needs of these incredible animals.
I really didn't know much about donkey's when we visited this place. However I came back loving them. The people who run this care so much about their donkeys and take such good care of them. They have a great place that is huge that they can get out and about at nite. And then during the day they come in and get fed and whatever else needs to be done. We met all of them and got to feed them animal crackers which they love. Everyone needs to go and visit. Such a great education for all. Unfortunately I cannot show all my great photos because they need to be smaller to fit on this site and I don't know how to do that.