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Community Corner

Malibu Donkey Helps At-Risk Youth

Gilbert, the Donkey Ambassador, is helping k9 Connection teach compassion and empathy to young adults and children.

As soon as Malibu resident Marty Gwinn met Hot Fudge Sundae, a donkey she affectionately calls Gilbert, she knew she had a special creature on her hands.

"I knew from the get-go he'd be a great therapy animal," she said. "I just didn't know when or how."

Gwinn explained, "Just after first meeting him, he looked at me and leaned on me; I thought, 'wait a minute, this is an extraordinary animal.'"

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Her friend Katherine Beattie led her to k9 Connection, a Santa Monica-based group she co-founded that brings at-risk teens and homeless dogs together. From there, “Gilbert the Donkey Ambassador" was born.

Beattie called k9 Connection "an experiential program that brings two voiceless populations—at-risk teens and homeless shelter dogs—together to help each other build a second chance. It helps in trying to instill empathy and compassion in humans who have not been exposed to those qualities very much, by being inclusive of all life."

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The program features guest speakers who teach life lessons, but prior to Gilbert, there had never been a donkey doing the teaching. So there was some awe when he arrived for the first time last July.

"The youth were immediately attentive and seemed to become younger and more innocent as they peppered Marty with questions about the animal," Beattie recalled. "They were full of lots of questions for Marty: 'What do you train it for?' 'What does it eat?' 'You mean he is friends with a horse?' 'Why do you groom him?' and 'How do you do it?'"

Beattie continued, "Gilbert's presence put the teens outside their comfort zone, peaked their interest, and by the time it ended, they had learned that the donkey had feelings, needs and wanted kinship ... They touched and pet him, walked around him in wonderment, groomed him and were fascinated. "

She added, "I haven't seen this group give such rapt attention to many speakers or lessons. But they did to Marty and Gilbert."

Gwinn also recalled the first time Gilbert showed up to be an ambassador for k9 Connection.

"They had never seen anything four-legged except for a dog; some were afraid, but this was helping them overcome their fear," she said. "He makes you want to be around him; he makes you feel calm; he makes you feel good."

She noted that the young people became very calm upon spending time with Gilbert.

"You know by being around these kids that they've been through a lot," she said. "It was wonderful to watch them all gather around Gilbert."

Born in Snohomish, Wash. on March 20, 2011, Gilbert's real name is Hot Fudge Sundae because of his brown and white coloring with "slurry spots," as Gwinn described him. She affectionately named him Gilbert and brought him home originally to be a companion to her other donkey Greta and two horses. But she quickly found him to be suited for the ambassador role.

"He's a baby," Gwinn said. "As far as I know, he's the first ambassador for his breed."

Gilbert has cute ears that stick up. He can be a little stubborn, but he is also obedient and has a true personality that shines through. When one observes the calming effect this animal has, it becomes obvious why k9 Connection has named him its Donkey Ambassador (the group even made him a vest with the official title). There is something about Gilbert that is playful and warming to the heart.

He has continued to meet with the young people at k9 Connection and Gwinn is looking for other ambassador opportunities to help others.

"By being around him, you learn patience and kindness," Gwinn said. "It is an experience."

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