Lessons with Longears
These miniature donkeys are helping teach big lessons.
Dogs and horses may be the typical stars of most animal-assisted therapy programs, but at the Latham Centers residential program for adults with disabilities, it’s donkeys who are changing lives.
The Massachusetts-based organization provides care and support for those with complex special needs and specializes in serving adults with Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS)—a genetic disorder that can cause developmental disabilities, obsessive-compulsive behaviors and an insatiable appetite that can lead to obesity. These challenges require individuals with PWS to constantly exercise remarkable self-control in order to lead healthy, positive lives.
In 2008, Latham Centers discovered an unlikely ally for those with PWS: miniature donkeys. Dr. Janice Forster, a renowned neuropsychiatrist and expert in PWS treatment, suggested the idea to Latham Centers based on the success of donkey-assisted therapy programs in Germany. Within a year, Latham Centers purchased a residential home with property for livestock in East Sandwich, Massachusetts, and adopted six miniature donkeys. Although the donkeys did not come to the center with formal therapy training, they were gentle, friendly and up to the task. After a few months of training by Latham Centers donkey trainer Kristiane Thompson, the longears proved they would shine in their new roles as therapy animals.
Each participant’s journey through the donkey program begins with one-on-one donkey interaction until Thompson feels the resident is comfortable enough to join the program’s six-week training course.
During this “Donkey 101” course, students learn how to safely interact with and care for the donkeys. Graduates of the course can then participate in daily feeding, grooming, cleaning and even training activities.
Latham Centers residents have flourished in the pro
gram. The donkeys’ calm, engaging personalities put the participants at ease and enable them to practice new skills in a judgment-free environment. For example, convincing sometimes-stubborn donkeys to follow them through an obstacle course helps residents develop important abilities in patience, perseverance and relationship-building. Patrice Carroll, the director of PWS services at Latham Centers, says, “As our individuals learn to nurture and encourage the donkeys to become more compliant, they are strengthening their own ability to self-regulate their emotions and behavior.”
The triumph of accomplishing a challenge that requires patience and teamwork—skills that can be difficult for those with PWS—is evident on the faces of residents as they lead their donkeys over a series of logs and ground poles.
Even mundane tasks such as routine barn chores are an important part of the program. They help improve physical coordination, teach responsibility and provide participants with a sense of pride and achievement.
“I like working with the donkeys because they’re very interested in what you’re going to do with them and they bond very closely with you,” says Janice, a Latham Centers resident.
Interacting with the donkeys also helps participants better understand how their actions affect others. If a resident moves too quickly or speaks too loudly, the donkeys respond by walking away, balking or noisily expressing their disapproval with a pointed bray. This clear and immediate feedback helps residents understand the impact of their actions, which helps them self-correct.
Carroll says, “When working with the donkeys our individuals learn to use the power of their own calmness to gain the donkeys’ trust.”
The donkey program also provides an opportunity for individuals with PWS to become mentors. Latham Centers residents who have completed the donkey care course can team up with those who are still working toward their certification
The more experienced residents are able to pass along valuable advice, both about working with donkeys and living with PWS.
"It is a huge confidence boost for the mentors,” says Thompson. “They are so proud to share what they have learned.”
With personality and charm to spare, the gentle, engaging and occasionally stubborn donkeys have become invaluable partners in Latham Centers’ efforts to help adults with PWS develop important life skills and confidence. The beloved burros have captured the hearts of Latham Centers residents and changed their lives in the process.
“I have been a part of this program for more than eight years and I have never seen any challenging behaviors from our individuals while they are around the donkeys,” Thompson says. “The donkeys are very calming. They bring out the best in everyone.”