Colorado miniature donkey rescue opens for public visits, invites community to meet the herd
Mar 31, 2026, 4:02 PM
I didn’t even know hugging miniature donkeys was a thing, but now that I do I feel like I need it in my life!
The donkeys at Little Longears Miniature Donkey Rescue are curious, opinionated and I hear they’re world-class huggers. Starting next month, the public can find out for themselves.
The rescue recently announced that its 2026 visiting season is open for booking, with guided farm tours running from May 8 through Nov. 14. The organization, which takes in rescued miniature, standard and mammoth donkeys, opens its gates each year for a limited season of scheduled visits designed to introduce the public to its growing herd.
“Be prepared to be swarmed, as they are incredibly curious and affectionate,” the rescue warns on its website.
Tours begin at 1 p.m. and last roughly an hour and a half to two hours. During each visit, guides walk guests around the entire farm, introduce the donkeys by name and share their individual rescue stories. Visitors learn what challenges the animals faced before arriving at Little Longears and why donkey rescue remains a largely overlooked corner of animal welfare.
All visits require advance booking through the rescue’s website, littlelongears.org. For safety reasons, children must be at least 8 years old to attend.
The season kicks off with a special event: Lunch with the Longears on May 2 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The gathering offers a relaxed, picnic-style meal — including vegan and vegetarian options — while guests wander the paddocks, take photos and spend time getting to know the donkeys’ personalities up close.
Little Longears is a nonprofit rescue that has operated in Colorado for several years, housing donkeys of all sizes on its farm east of Denver. The organization relies on donations, sponsorships and tour revenue to fund feed, veterinary care and ongoing operations.
Available tour dates appear on the rescue’s online calendar at littlelongears.org, where visitors can select a month and purchase tickets for dates shown in blue. Dates are expected to fill quickly as the season approaches.
