Palo Alto's Barron Park Donkeys Have New Fiduciary Caretakers

PALO ALTO, CA — The Palo Alto Humane Society is taking responsibility for The Barron Park Donkeys, which have been part of the community at Bol Park since 1936.

The Palo Alto-based animal welfare organization took over fiscal responsibility of The Donkey Project at the beginning of 2022 from Acterra. It will support a group of volunteer donkey handlers that take care of Perry and Buddy, the two current donkeys.

“We can’t imagine a better outcome for the Donkeys and are so grateful to Palo Alto Humane Society for being willing to explore the possibilities of sponsorship — it really is a great show of leadership,” said Jenny Kiratli, lead handler at the Donkey Project.

Carole Hyde, the executive director of Palo Alto Humane Society, called the partnership with The Barron Park Donkeys a “perfect” one.

“Our mission is to create awareness, and we know that the donkeys support a healthy and thriving community,” Hyde said. “There is no time like the present to come together to care for each other, and these donkeys, as a team.”

Volunteers have helped care for the donkeys at Barron Park since the late 1990s.

Visit barronparkdonkeys.org for more information. The public can meet the donkeys every Sunday from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., and feed them at the gate on Sunday evenings.