•  SENIORS' DAY - OCTOBER 15  •

Welcome to Sanctuary

News from the DSC

We are open for the season!

Open Days are back at the DSC for the 2024 season. From the first weekend in May until the end of October, we welcome you to come visit the donkeys in sanctuary. For information about visiting the donkeys, go here.

Important driving directions update!

Concession 4, Maltby Rd. and County Rd. 34 are all closed at Hwy 6 due to recent road changes. The new interchange is open, but we understand it might be confusing for first-time visitors. Here’s our suggested route.

How sponsoring a donkey helps our work

It costs approximately $2,000 per year per animal to care for each donkeys or mule at the DSC. And in many cases, it can cost much more. Find out more about sponsoring a donkey here.

Donkey stories, information and advice

Read about the animals at the DSC, and get the latest in education, advice & information.

Information centre

A photo of two donkeys and a young person visiting at the Donkey Sanctuary of Canada.
Our new annual pass program gives visitors unlimited access to our Open Days for a whole year...
Sanctuary and refuge for wildlife as well as our beloved donkeys and mules...
Answering your questions about donkeys, mules and the Donkey Sanctuary of Canada...
Photo of a donkey named Walker standing in a field at the Donkey Sanctuary of Canada.
While there are over 30 breeds of donkeys recognized worldwide, most donkeys in North America are not bred to any specific standard......

Sponsor a donkey or mule

Dylan and his sister Sydney were beloved family pets before coming to the DSC. They had received regular veterinary and farrier care and were well handled. They came to the DSC when their owner decided wisely to plan for the animals’ future.

Apollo lived on a farm with cattle. When he did not show interest in the cattle and did not protect them his caretaker physically abused him and refused to pay for his hooves to be trimmed. The SPCA was called in to investigate. It was not long before the donkey was relinquished and the DSC was asked to take him into care.

Cookie, a 12-year-old standard donkey with just three legs, is a testament to strength and determination. Since Cookie’s arrival we have been hard at work to keep her comfortable and we’re currently exploring options to help her have more mobility.

Before arriving at the Donkey Sanctuary of Canada (DSC) Tequila lived with another donkey, a jack named Cruze, on a farm in Western Ontario. There they were used as a breeding pair and had several offspring. When they were no longer able to have offspring they were moved to a different farm, where they received very little care. The DSC was contacted to see if we could help.

Da Vinci lived on a farm which became a DSC Foster Farm.  DSC’s Meegers was placed to be a companion to Da Vinci.  The two donkeys bonded and when the property had to be sold, the caregivers were very concerned about Da Vinci’s future.

Willow was born here at the DSC Farm, after his mother, Roberta, and two other donkeys were rescued by the Kitchener-Waterloo Humane Society due to severe neglect. Shortly after her arrival Roberta gave birth to Willow.

Ways to give

How you can help the donkeys and mules at the DSC

It costs approximately $2,000 per year, per donkey (or mule) to care for the animals at our sanctuary. If you’d like to support our work, wonderful—there are many ways you can help.