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I have to say that after meeting Titus, I believe in love at first sight. One look at
those incredible ears and soulful eyes and I was hopelessly smitten! For
months, we had been searching for a donkey to ward off coyotes and protect
the sheep and goats. I was beginning to get frustrated with our inability to
acquire one when I was contacted by someone who had that was in need of a
new home - the catch was she wasn't sure if the current owner would be
willing to let him go.
As she filled in the details around 'Donkee's' circumstances, we learned that
he had spent the majority of the last year of his life standing in a small,
cramped stall, up to his knees in manure. He was underweight and his feet
had been badly neglected. She was willing to help us get the donkey out of
there, we just had to convince the owner to let us have him.
As I talk with people about the various animals we have taken in or stories I
have heard, I hear the same question over and over. "Why? Why do people
keep animals and then neglect them. Why don't they just get rid of them? How
could someone let an animal get into that bad a condition?"
I don't know the answer to that question. I've asked it myself a hundred times.
I suspect that sometimes people are simply ashamed to let anyone see what
has been allowed to happen. In some cases involving hoarding or other
psychological issues, I believe that people truly cannot see how poor the
animal's condition is. In any case, it is often difficult to convince the owners of
animals in this condition to let them go.
those incredible ears and soulful eyes and I was hopelessly smitten! For
months, we had been searching for a donkey to ward off coyotes and protect
the sheep and goats. I was beginning to get frustrated with our inability to
acquire one when I was contacted by someone who had that was in need of a
new home - the catch was she wasn't sure if the current owner would be
willing to let him go.
As she filled in the details around 'Donkee's' circumstances, we learned that
he had spent the majority of the last year of his life standing in a small,
cramped stall, up to his knees in manure. He was underweight and his feet
had been badly neglected. She was willing to help us get the donkey out of
there, we just had to convince the owner to let us have him.
As I talk with people about the various animals we have taken in or stories I
have heard, I hear the same question over and over. "Why? Why do people
keep animals and then neglect them. Why don't they just get rid of them? How
could someone let an animal get into that bad a condition?"
I don't know the answer to that question. I've asked it myself a hundred times.
I suspect that sometimes people are simply ashamed to let anyone see what
has been allowed to happen. In some cases involving hoarding or other
psychological issues, I believe that people truly cannot see how poor the
animal's condition is. In any case, it is often difficult to convince the owners of
animals in this condition to let them go.
That was the case with 'Donkee'. We made contact with his
owner and shared a bit about the programs we offer at was
initially receptive to the idea of rehoming him, it took over a
month before she finally allowed him to be picked up. When
we finally heard that he had been removed from her farm and
would be headed down to us in the next few days, we rejoiced!
It had been a long process, but we were ecstatic that he was
finally going to be heading our way and was already receiving
the care he needed and deserved.
It was a particularly busy day at the ranch. We had several
children coming out for the first time and a new horse was to
arrive that day as well. As I made preparations, I wondered
about his condition. I wasn't sure how thin he would be or
just how overgrown his feet were. Deciding to keep him in
that first night, we bedded a stall, scrubbed and filled his
water buckets, and filled a corner with fresh hay. We had
already chosen a new name for him: Titus, which means
'defender'.
I had spaced out the various events of the day as much as
possible, but as it stood it was a tight schedule, and already
Ally, my friend who was bringing the new horse, had called to
say she was running late.
owner and shared a bit about the programs we offer at was
initially receptive to the idea of rehoming him, it took over a
month before she finally allowed him to be picked up. When
we finally heard that he had been removed from her farm and
would be headed down to us in the next few days, we rejoiced!
It had been a long process, but we were ecstatic that he was
finally going to be heading our way and was already receiving
the care he needed and deserved.
It was a particularly busy day at the ranch. We had several
children coming out for the first time and a new horse was to
arrive that day as well. As I made preparations, I wondered
about his condition. I wasn't sure how thin he would be or
just how overgrown his feet were. Deciding to keep him in
that first night, we bedded a stall, scrubbed and filled his
water buckets, and filled a corner with fresh hay. We had
already chosen a new name for him: Titus, which means
'defender'.
I had spaced out the various events of the day as much as
possible, but as it stood it was a tight schedule, and already
Ally, my friend who was bringing the new horse, had called to
say she was running late.
A new family was visiting the Ranch for the first time that day as well. I was showing them around the farm alongside Tina,
one of the Ranch's volunteers, when Ally's trailer rumbled up the drive carrying the new horse, Blaze. With an apologetic
smile, I left the families in Tina's capable hands and went to see about getting him settled.
Our horses were lined up along the fence, sniffing the air and stretching their necks toward the trailer which had parked a
few feet away. I smiled as they whinnied to the new arrival and he called back. Slowly, Ally backed him off of the trailer
and gave him a moment to take in his new surroundings before putting him in a paddock that shared a fence line with the
rest of the herd. Just as she was turning Blaze out, another trailer rumbled up the lane and began to turn into the drive. I
shook my head and laughed to myself. Of course, everything all at once! Their are just times that, despite our best efforts
to plan and prepare, chaos reigns.
Thankful for both Ally's and Tina's presence that day, I turned my attention to greeting Titus. The generous friends who had
helped us find and pull Titus from his previous home were already climbing out of the truck, one of them with a handful of
oatmeal cookies. (In the few days that he had stayed with her, she had discovered that he LOVED oat meal cookies.
Imagine that! I grinned at the cookies and waited as one of them backed him off the trailer, excited to meet him and
anxious to see his condition.
The minute his feet were visible, however, my grin vanished. His feet, one rear hoof in particular, were in horrendous
condition. I knew it had been a very long time since this donkey had seen a farrier. I cringed with every step he took,
although he showed no signs of lameness.
one of the Ranch's volunteers, when Ally's trailer rumbled up the drive carrying the new horse, Blaze. With an apologetic
smile, I left the families in Tina's capable hands and went to see about getting him settled.
Our horses were lined up along the fence, sniffing the air and stretching their necks toward the trailer which had parked a
few feet away. I smiled as they whinnied to the new arrival and he called back. Slowly, Ally backed him off of the trailer
and gave him a moment to take in his new surroundings before putting him in a paddock that shared a fence line with the
rest of the herd. Just as she was turning Blaze out, another trailer rumbled up the lane and began to turn into the drive. I
shook my head and laughed to myself. Of course, everything all at once! Their are just times that, despite our best efforts
to plan and prepare, chaos reigns.
Thankful for both Ally's and Tina's presence that day, I turned my attention to greeting Titus. The generous friends who had
helped us find and pull Titus from his previous home were already climbing out of the truck, one of them with a handful of
oatmeal cookies. (In the few days that he had stayed with her, she had discovered that he LOVED oat meal cookies.
Imagine that! I grinned at the cookies and waited as one of them backed him off the trailer, excited to meet him and
anxious to see his condition.
The minute his feet were visible, however, my grin vanished. His feet, one rear hoof in particular, were in horrendous
condition. I knew it had been a very long time since this donkey had seen a farrier. I cringed with every step he took,
although he showed no signs of lameness.
As is often the case with rescues, his coat was
shaggy and his belly was bloated as a result of
a heavy parasite load.
shaggy and his belly was bloated as a result of
a heavy parasite load.
His legs were covered with fungus from having stood for so long in feces, and the hair on his stomach was matted
with manure. However, his eyes were bright and alert, and he regarded with interest and a bit of fear all that was new
and going on around him.
with manure. However, his eyes were bright and alert, and he regarded with interest and a bit of fear all that was new
and going on around him.
The matted hair on Titus' stomach and fungus on his legs
As we began to lead him across the drive, Titus began to struggle against the halter and lead rope. He was not unkind,
but the fear in his eyes was obvious as we encouraged him toward the barn.
As I write, I am struck by how much I can be like this! How often do we remain in the mire and muck of our life because
it is comfortable. God has promised us a place of safety and provision within his care, if we will only agree to follow
where He leads. Yet we balk and struggle because trusting the unknown is scary! Despite circumstances that are often
difficult and painful, we keep our feet firmly planted where they are because it is safe. It is what we know. If only we truly
trusted that He has more for us than we could ask or imagine! We need only believe that His intentions for us are always
Good. His will is always Good. His promise is to work all things for the good for those who love Him.
I wanted so badly to be able to communicate to this poor donkey that he would be okay. That his days of pain and
neglect were over and there were only good things ahead for him. His new surroundings were frightening and
unfamiliar. But the truth was that he was so much safer here in this unfamiliar place than he had been. His small,
cramped stall, while unhealthy and uncomfortable, had become safe and predictable to him. I wanted him to know and
understand the freedom that was now his. But as with us, that understanding and trust only comes with time, rarely with
great and sudden revelation.
We eventually got him to his stall and settled him in. As he began to relax and trust us, we moved him onto a paddock
where he could move freely and graze. I absolutely love to watch him run and kick up his feet with the pure joy that
comes from simply having the space and freedom to do so. We are still working on earning his trust completely. He
adores affection and will solicit scratches and attention from any human within distance of hearing his obnoxious bray.
However, he hates to have his feet messed with and simply does not trust that we are not going to hurt him, despite our
best efforts to prove to him over and over that we are trustworthy. But I am reminded to be patient. Thank God that He is
patient with me. Perhaps someday, I will begin to trust completely the truth He has proven over and over and over: He
is completely faithful. He is good. He will provide for me everything I need and so much more if I will only trust what is
true.
May we never choose to remain in our muck and filth because it is safe and comfortable. May we always choose to trust
in Him - to run into the unknown and kick up our feet in the freedom we have been given in Christ!
but the fear in his eyes was obvious as we encouraged him toward the barn.
As I write, I am struck by how much I can be like this! How often do we remain in the mire and muck of our life because
it is comfortable. God has promised us a place of safety and provision within his care, if we will only agree to follow
where He leads. Yet we balk and struggle because trusting the unknown is scary! Despite circumstances that are often
difficult and painful, we keep our feet firmly planted where they are because it is safe. It is what we know. If only we truly
trusted that He has more for us than we could ask or imagine! We need only believe that His intentions for us are always
Good. His will is always Good. His promise is to work all things for the good for those who love Him.
I wanted so badly to be able to communicate to this poor donkey that he would be okay. That his days of pain and
neglect were over and there were only good things ahead for him. His new surroundings were frightening and
unfamiliar. But the truth was that he was so much safer here in this unfamiliar place than he had been. His small,
cramped stall, while unhealthy and uncomfortable, had become safe and predictable to him. I wanted him to know and
understand the freedom that was now his. But as with us, that understanding and trust only comes with time, rarely with
great and sudden revelation.
We eventually got him to his stall and settled him in. As he began to relax and trust us, we moved him onto a paddock
where he could move freely and graze. I absolutely love to watch him run and kick up his feet with the pure joy that
comes from simply having the space and freedom to do so. We are still working on earning his trust completely. He
adores affection and will solicit scratches and attention from any human within distance of hearing his obnoxious bray.
However, he hates to have his feet messed with and simply does not trust that we are not going to hurt him, despite our
best efforts to prove to him over and over that we are trustworthy. But I am reminded to be patient. Thank God that He is
patient with me. Perhaps someday, I will begin to trust completely the truth He has proven over and over and over: He
is completely faithful. He is good. He will provide for me everything I need and so much more if I will only trust what is
true.
May we never choose to remain in our muck and filth because it is safe and comfortable. May we always choose to trust
in Him - to run into the unknown and kick up our feet in the freedom we have been given in Christ!
| REFUGE RANCH |
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| Meet Titus! |
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| 3845 Delay Rd Pawnee, IL 62558 217-498-7679 email: refuge@refuge-ranch.org |