Guelph CVI gives back to local donkey sanctuary

November 26, 2021

GUELPH, Ontario — What do two community philanthropists, a couple of classic guitars, and a high school music program have in common? Well, they love to give back to a local donkey sanctuary.

Judy and Bob Taylor — local community philanthropists — reached out to the music program at Guelph Collegiate Vocational Institute to donate two valuable guitars — a Gibson Les Paul and a Fender Telecaster.

“After talking with Bob, we learned he and Judy volunteer a lot of their time in retirement to working at the Donkey Sanctuary in Puslinch,” said Lane Osborne, a music teacher at Guelph CVI.

The Donkey Sanctuary of Canada is located outside of Guelph and their mission is to provide a lifelong home to donkeys, mules and hinnies who are unwanted, neglected or abused, or whose owners can no longer care for them. The sanctuary also aims to promote responsible caretaking of all animals through humane education.

The music program at Guelph CVI decided to adopt one of the sanctuary’s donkey’s Ruby. “We are happy to report we will be sponsoring little Ruby each year, and she has become the new mascot of our music program,” said Osborne. Guelph CVI’s music program hopes to hold a concert in the spring with all proceeds going to the Donkey Sanctuary.

Osborne, and a few students from Guelph CVI’s music program got to visit the sanctuary and meet the donkey, Ruby, that they are sponsoring as well as Judy and Bob and learn why they love the sanctuary and dedicate so much of their time there.

“We love these animals so much. It just makes you feel good helping any animal that’s been abused,” said Judy Taylor.

Guelph CVI’s music program hopes that this act of kindness inspires other schools and students to recreate other acts of kindness.