Dr. Beth Hakala begins an evening of administration work at her home in Cole Camp, Missouri on Wednesday. After a long day tending to her 300 donkeys she catches up on calls. Angela, her home-fed donkey, is happy for the company after a day alone. 

Amy, left, and Ashley, right, peer in to the house from the porch. “Oh they’re just jealous” says Beth, as they watch Angela, the indoors donkey get undivided attention from Beth during dinner. 

Beth makes her daily drive around the pasture to check on sick and injured animals. She knows them all by name and how they ended up at the rescue farm. She takes time to stop and connect often stroking each animal along the way. “It’s my therapy,” she says.

Beth takes a call from the veterinarian. The vet updates her on a donkey’s ongoing medical treatment away from the farm. The bill has risen from and initial $6,000 to $14,000 which Beth will likely pay out of her own pocket. This is a common occurrence for Beth who relies solely on donations and volunteers to help run the rescue. 

Danny, an amputee donkey, has a prosthetic leg fitted to help him keep up with the other donkeys. “They come here with so many issues,” owner Beth says. Like many of the donkeys on the farm Danny was rescued from ‘kill pen’ buyers who purchase donkeys for slaughter. 

The 250-acre Peaceful Pastures farm encompasses woodland, open fields and barns where the donkeys feed, shelter rest and play. “I reduced my working hours at the hospital to spend more time working with the donkeys, that’s my real passion,” Beth said.

Beth catches Peewee, a dwarf horse. Peewee has a genetic defect which causes her feet turn out which makes walking difficult. Beth drives her to a vet for a blood test. The test is a required so Pewee can be transferred to Florida where she’ll be looked after at a specialist facility.

Tommy, left, and Neil, right, seek out Beth’s attention. The donkeys are gentle and affectionate. “If you stand around for too long in one spot you’ll be surrounded,” Beth said.

Angela pauses from eating a special diet of milk replacer pellets. She arrived at the rescue farm underweight and her mother who was also starved could not feed her. Beth decided to look after Angela at home to make sure she gains enough weight before sending her back to pasture.

Beth fills Angela’s bowl one last time before driving to Lafayette Regional Health Center for a 24-hour-shift at the emergency room. Volunteers will check in on Angela while Beth is away. “We will miss each other,” says Beth, who has to juggle life between the emergency room and the rescue.