Cross post from the SYA email list

Dear Friends of Save Your Ass Long Ear Rescue,
 
Since 2007 Save Your Ass Long Ear Rescue has been saving lives one donkey and mule at a time in New England. 
 
We receive calls weekly asking if we can take in just one more donkey or mule. Even though we would love to help them all, we can only help as many as our resources allow.  We can calculate all the known expenses such as how much food we will need, the cost of the initial vet visit, vaccinations, and dental expenses but there are always “the unexpected” issues that crop up.
 
Vito is our latest donkey to have something unexpected happen. We have had a very wet, rainy spring here in New England which has resulted in a great deal of mold and fungus on almost everything. While out grazing Vito got poked in the eye with either a blade of grass of piece of hay which seeded a fungal infection into his eye.  The problem went from a slight conjunctivitis to a full blown, swollen, draining, terrible looking closed eye within 12 hours.
 
After a couple of farm visits from our vets it was clear that Vito would need to be hospitalized. While in hospital he had a cannula sewn into his eyelid, then had the eyelid sutured closed. The cannula was attached to a thin tube that came up from his eye and ran back down to be taped against his neck. This way he could have the eye medicated every two hours during the day without having to touch the now very painful eye.
 
Unfortunately after a week of constant medicating, including one drug that cost $205.00 a bottle, it was determined that the fungus was eating away at all the healthy corneal tissue leaving poor Vito with what is known as a “melting cornea” It was decided that the eye needed to be removed.  The surgery went well and Vito came home looking like a wounded soldier.
 
His recovery has gone very well. At his two week check up he had his sutures removed and the scar looks very well healed. He was put back out to pasture with his buddies, who promptly looked at him as an alien who most likely smelled of a veterinary hospital, and attacked him.  His wounds were superficial and he is now housed with a lovely jennet named Calliope.  Calliope has been adopted and will be moving to her new home in a week or so.  Vito has not been that fortunate and will be staying here until his adopters come along. 
 
There are several ways you can help.  You can sponsor Vito for $50.00 a month until he finds his new family, or make a one time contribution which will help with his expenses until he is united with his “forever home”, or you could adopt Vito.  All donations are tax deductible.
 
On behalf of all the donkeys and mules we are able to save each year, thank you very much for your continued support of Save Your Ass Long Ear Rescue. Without you we would not be here.
 
Best regards,
 
 
Ann W. Firestone, President & Shelter Manager
_____________________________________________________________________
Save Your Ass Long Ear Rescue
at Broomtail Farm
23 Saw Mill Road
South Acworth, NH   03607
www.saveyourassrescue.org  603-835-2971
 
Yes, I would like to sponsor Vito for ________ months.
 
Yes, I would like to help Vito.  Enclosed is my gift of: $___________
 
Please make checks payable to SYALER and return with this form to:
SYALER, 23 Saw Mill Rd. S. Acworth NH 03607