By Cecilia Nasmith
A special lady named PrimRose hopes you can attend her birthday party Sunday afternoon at the Bowmanton estate named in her honour – the PrimRose Donkey Sanctuary.
Though owner Sheila Burns throws a big party for her every year, the 2020 version is tailored to COVID-19 necessity. Well-wishers are invited to gather along the fence line to watch the festivities starting at about 1 p.m., social distancing and (if they wish) wearing masks. At 1:30 p.m., Burns and her dedicated volunteers will lead the singing, after which PrimRose will demonstrate her amazing ability to eat birthday cake off a fork.
PrimRose is the donkey that changed Burns's life, the one she first fell in love with, the one who inspired her to start the sanctuary.
“She taught me a lot,” Burns said, and she has always passed that along. She has visited schools and organized educational events to share donkey facts and lore, and visits to the sanctuary – until recent months, at least – have offered a wonderful hands-on opportunity to learn more.
The visits were also an opportunity for visitors to support the sanctuary, which depends entirely on donations to keep caring for these wonderful animals.
Burns decided not to go beyond a Phase Two reopening yet (not just for the sake of the youngest, most vulnerable animals at the sanctuary, but also for the safety of her volunteers), but fence-line visits are still encouraged Thursdays and Sundays from 1 to 3 p.m. And donation boxes are set up at the fence line and at the main gate, so she hopes visitors will continue to show their support.
Burns refers to herself as the second boss of the place, as PrimRose is definitely in charge. She has now reached the venerable age of 46, and could reasonably expect to reach the half-century mark. Her friends Lucy and Sheila are 51 and 48 respectively.
“She's in really good condition, with everything percolating so well, and she's still my girl,” Burns said fondly.
All the animals, regardless of age, look forward to a time when visits can be more of an up-close experience. Burns hopes that can happen in the new year, and she's already looking ahead to resuming such annual events as Daisies for Donkeys in May.
As for the Yuletide Caroling With The Donkeys – which some years can attract as many as 300 revelers – stay tuned for an outdoors version for 2020 that she is working on.
The sanctuary is located at 1296 Bowmanton Rd. near Roseneath, at the juncture of County Road 9 and Bowmanton Road.
