After months of searching—and plenty of anticipation—we’re excited to officially welcome two very special new members to the AACORN family: Dorothy and Delores!
The journey to naming our newest residents was a community effort. Earlier this month, we invited our social media followers to help narrow down a list of possible names. From there, AACORN participants and staff cast their votes, and the winners were clear. Dorothy, our five-year-old standard donkey, and Delores, our four-year-old miniature donkey, have officially joined the herd.
Since arriving, the girls have settled in beautifully and wasted no time making friends—especially with Sugar, our miniature horse. Sugar has always enjoyed attention from participants, but it’s been wonderful to watch her interact with two fellow equines. It’s safe to say she’s happy to have a little more company.
For participants, welcoming Dorothy and Delores has been much more than meeting two new animals.
Every day brings opportunities to build confidence and learn something new. Participants have been spending time brushing the donkeys, learning their personalities, practicing safe animal handling, and discovering what makes donkeys different from the other animals they care for at AACORN. 
And if there’s one thing we’ve all learned already, it’s that donkeys have a great sense of humor.
One of Dorothy and Delores’ favorite activities is taking dust baths. They’ll happily flop onto the ground, roll onto their backs, kick their legs in the air, and wiggle from side to side before standing up looking perfectly content. The first time it happened, it caught everyone’s attention. Now, participants often stop what they’re doing just to watch the show—and it never fails to bring laughter.
As participants spend time caring for Dorothy and Delores, they’re also developing responsibility, patience, observation skills, and confidence. Those everyday moments of brushing a coat, noticing a behavior, or simply standing quietly beside an animal help build meaningful connections that are at the heart of life at AACORN.
We’re grateful to everyone who followed along during our search for the perfect pair and to those who helped choose their names. We have a feeling Dorothy and Delores are going to be bringing smiles, laughter, and learning opportunities to the farm for many years to come.
Welcome to the AACORN family, Dorothy and Delores!