A grassy field with a wooden fence, trees, and a cloudy sky in the background, illuminated by soft sunlight.

A woman with short dark hair, wearing sunglasses, a maroon T-shirt, and blue overalls, standing outdoors in a farmyard with a smile, surrounded by goats and a cat.

Get to know Blue Moon

Blue Moon Sanctuary began with a single donkey and a woman who refused to ignore what she saw. Anna Eby, an attorney and lifelong advocate for the overlooked, quickly became a leading figure in donkey rescue. What started as one unexpected connection with a rescue donkey evolved into a mission to protect, elevate, and champion a species far too often misunderstood.

Anna is known for blending heart, humor, and hard facts; teaching people why donkeys are remarkable, what dangers they face globally, and how everyday humans can help shift the narrative. Her work positions her to be a trusted educator, a policy-minded strategist, and a thought leader in ethical donkey rescue.

A pink rose in a garden with trees and other plants in the background.

Our Approach to Safe and Ethical Rescue

Blue Moon’s philosophy centers on a three-pronged approach designed to protect donkeys across their entire life cycle without fueling the very systems that endanger them.

Education

Before change can happen, people need to understand the animals they’re fighting for.

We want to give the public a clearer picture of who donkeys really are, and what they’re up against.

Donkeys have unique personalities, excellent memories, and are very social (they need pals to thrive, just like us!)
They have long lifespans, and specialized food and health requirements

Ethical Rescue

Not all rescue is truly rescue. Blue Moon Sanctuary prioritizes the welfare of the animals, not the profit of the people exploiting them. This means:

Focusing, first, on keeping donkeys out of the slaughter pipeline by accepting owner surrenders and law enforcement seizures
Saving donkeys from kill pens without fueling the very pipeline that put them there
Refusing to participate in inflated pricing or “bail” schemes that incentivize bad actors
Working with vetted partners, transporters, and professionals who align with humane, ethical standards

Advocacy & Legislative Action

We look forward to working to amplify voices, build coalitions, and support legislation that protects equines throughout their entire life cycle. This will include pushing for:

Stronger anti-slaughter laws
Protections against live export
Bans or restrictions on the donkey skin trade
Increased standards for humane treatment

Close-up of a donkey's face showing its eye, ear, and fur against a clear blue sky.

And then there’s the part almost nobody knows about…

Donkeys are becoming endangered globally.

Millions are trafficked each year for the donkey skin trade, where their hides are used to make a product called ejiao. It’s a trade so widespread and so lucrative that communities worldwide are watching their donkey populations disappear.

Our goal is to teach people the truth, empower them with facts, and help them see donkeys not as work animals, but as intelligent, emotional beings worth protecting. it

How You Can Support the Mission

This work takes a community. You can help by volunteering, becoming an ambassador, donating, sponsoring a donkey, or shopping to support feed, farrier care, medical treatment, and the daily needs of more than 120 donkey residents, plus the horses, pigs, and assorted barnyard characters who’ve joined the family.

Whether you share your time, your voice, or your resources, you become part of the movement proving just how extraordinary donkeys really are.

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