Collinsville, Texas – A pioneering veterinary facility opened on September 5, marking the United States’ first hospital devoted exclusively to donkey care. The Center for the Advancement of Donkeys, operated by the nonprofit Oscar’s Place, received its first 14 rescued donkeys the following day.
Local rescue operation gains a faster, safer path
Oscar’s Place co‑founder Ron King told CBS Texas that the organization has rescued 527 donkeys to date. By situating a full‑service hospital just an hour from the Bowie Livestock Auction, the nonprofit can now assess and treat animals before they endure a 32‑hour trailer ride to California.
Previously, sick donkeys faced a lengthy, stressful journey that risked spreading illness. The new hospital features 14 heated and cooled stalls, an intake arena, on‑site laboratory and pharmacy, an isolation ward, and 40 acres of recovery pastures, including separate housing for contagious cases.
Addressing the global donkey‑hide trade
The Animal Welfare Institute warns that demand for donkey hides—used to produce ejiao gelatin in traditional Chinese medicine—has driven a brutal international trade. Producers in China source skins from the Americas, Africa and Asia, often transporting animals through Mexico for slaughter.
King explained that buyers travel from Mexico to purchase donkeys at auction and then ship them south for processing. Oscar’s Place buys donkeys at the Bowie Livestock Auction to divert them from this pipeline.
More than treatment – a hub for education and research
The Texas facility also serves as a base for broader goals: collecting data, training veterinarians, and advancing donkey medicine. A volunteer program is in development, and the nonprofit hopes the hospital will become a national resource for donkey health.
One notable resident, Old Man Banks—a roughly 30‑year‑old donkey with severe hoof damage and malnutrition—will remain in Texas for recovery rather than face the cross‑country trip.
Public awareness growing
King and Oscar’s Place are featured in “Donkey King,” a 17‑episode docuseries airing on ABC stations nationwide. ABC News Live highlighted King’s work in a January 2026 segment, bringing further attention to the plight of rescued donkeys.
North Texas already hosts other rescue groups, such as Donkey and Equine Haven Rescue in Celina, which also seeks adopters for rescued donkeys and mules.
The new hospital represents a significant step forward for animal‑welfare advocates in Texas, offering a humane alternative to the dangerous, long‑distance transport that has long plagued donkey rescues.
Original reporting: The Dallas Express — read the source article.
