About Us
Save Your Ass Long Ear Rescue is a registered 501(c)3 non-profit animal rescue. The mission of Save Your Ass Long Ear Rescue is to rescue, rehabilitate and re-home donkeys and mules in need. We also provide educational opportunities that create awareness of the human/animal bond, as well as the specific needs of long ears. Save Your Ass Long Ear Rescue accepts donkeys and mules in crisis situations and provides shelter, vet care, training, and re-homing.
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We currently have two locations, one is located in South Acworth, NH and the other is in Marlborough, NH. We are open to visitors but we ask that you please reach out to make an appointment for your visit.
Co-Founder - Ann Firestone
Ann has owned and loved all kinds of long ears for over 20 years. Ann knew she wanted to spend her life working with animals from a young age. She has been involved with dog rescue and wildlife rehabilitation and was a vet tech for 35 years. Once in the donkey loop, Ann met other donkey enthusiasts and found that she was not the only one taking in donkeys in need of new homes. "We decided to join forces and put all of our energy together to help as many donkeys and mules possible."
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Ann retired as Executive Director in 2022. She handed the reins over to Hannah Allen.
President/Director - Hannah Allen
Hannah has worked with SYA since 2015.
It is here that she fell in love with donkeys and mules but always had a passion for working around and with animals. Hannah has completed many courses on equine behavior and enjoys using this knowledge to train donkeys and mules using force-free methods such as Positive reinforcement so that donkeys and mules can become adoptable.
From a very young age, she has always been a horse-crazy nature nerd and has been around these two things whenever she had a chance. Hannah took on the role of President of SYA after Ann retired in 2022.
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Hannah's favorite pastime when not surrounded by the rescues includes spending time with her husband and daughter, two dogs, chickens, and three equines; A Lippitt Morgan named Gusto, a quarter horse mule from SYA named Slick, and a Gypsy Vanner named Seamus.
Treasurer - Jean Cross
Jean has owned horses and one mule for 17 years. She is an active member of the Green Mountain Horse Association, Green Mountain Miniature Horse and Donkey Association, and Draft Animal Power Network. She fell in love with long ears after attending a mini donkey show in Addison, VT. Her mother was in the market for a little equine, and try as she might, jean could not convince her that a donkey was the way to go; instead, they brought two mini horses home. However, Jean has taken every chance to hang out with all the asses she finds, including the two mini donkeys that live at Shelburne Farms, where she works.
She brought home her aged mule from a farm that was offering her up as a protector of sheep. This would not have been an ideal job for her as she was going blind. Jean has worked hard to regain her trust and has found that work to be the most satisfying of all the work she has done with her equines. Jean lives in VT with her husband, Cairn, two dogs, two cats, two rabbits, three mini ponies, and one awesome mini mule.
Laura Kmiec
Laura has been working at SYA as a valued team member since late 2021. Laura helps to keep the rescue animals clean and comfortable by feeding them, cleaning stalls, pastures, pens, and all the other endless tasks that need to be done on a farm. Laura has an excellent work ethic and is always willing to come to the rescue at the drop of a hat if we need help. Laura spends her free time taking care of her friends' animals when needed, her own two horses named Blue and Sara and spending time with her family and friends. Laura has grown up around horses as her parents, too, had a love and a passion for equines.
Lisa Tellstone
Lisa has ridden and owned horses for nearly 40 years. She fell in love with long ears after moving to the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont, just down the road from an equine retirement facility and breeder of Poitou donkeys, an endangered breed of donkeys. Lisa came to realize how charismatic and intelligent they are, to the point that she brought home Oscar, a saddle-trained donkey from the central US to her home in Vermont alongside her 2 horses. One turned into two quickly - Lisa fell in love with little Jasper here at SYALER and brought him home summer of 2023. True to a long-ear lover's nature, two turned to three, and Bandit the mammoth saddle donkey arrived later that summer. Lisa now prefers riding and owning donkeys to horses, though her senior quarter horse Winston holds a special place in her heart. She is passionate about equine and is committed to contributing however she can to the welfare of these beloved long-ears. Lisa lives in northern Vermont with her husband, 2 children, three donkeys, horse, dog, and an assortment of chickens, geese, turkeys and ducks.
