Featured Visitor: For the Love of Donkeys
And snakes, desert tortoises, bearded dragons, and…More donkeys!
Rachael Komulainen realized her dream job when she joined the team working for Peaceful Valley Donkey Rescue in Tehachapi, California, the largest donkey rescue in the U.S. “PVDR” works toward “improving the plight of the American Donkey on a national level”. Rachael is a self-described Jill-of-all-trades with duties that include animal care, educational programs, fundraising, volunteer coordination, and writing the newsletter and on-line blog.
In the course of rescuing donkeys, many other animals were in need of rescuing as well included cows, bison, snakes so”PVDR” was there. The vast majority of people have never seen a donkey. Peaceful Valley’s outreach programs have taken donkeys into places where people have had the opportunity to meet donkeys. Thousands of hearts have been changed in this hands-on-way. Ingrained perceptions are changed as people see, many for the first time, the gentleness and intelligence that donkeys possess.
“It’s not just a job, it’s a life” says Rachael. Rachael stopped by Best Friends Animal Sanctuary to take a tour and visit with our small band of donkeys. Thanks Rachael for helping to change the lives of animals one donkey at a time!!
Written by Marcia Frankel