Donkeys are the most abused and neglected domesticated animal on Earth; And now, the use of the gelatin in their hides in a Chinese Medicine remedy has catapulted their deaths to near extinction in many countries. See Congressional report on this topic.
As many of you know, my late husband, Leonardo Gutierrez, was a great lover of animals; he was always rescuing a poor mistreated animal, including geese at the feed store or the neglected donkey at the end of our street. Because one of our Bulgarian Lavenders was a favorite of his, every year we donate 10% of the sales of that oil (now renamed Leonardo’s Lavender in his honor) to a deserving animal rescue organization.
This year, Oscar’s Place, located in Hopland, CA, received our monetary contribution, in addition to a collection donated by the WOTE staff. Recently, I had the joyful experience of going to the sanctuary in person, and visiting with the donkeys and the amazing staff. Their love for these beautiful animals, which are so dear to my heart, as we had three of our own in New Mexico, brought tears to my eyes. It is hard, challenging work, but Ron King and his team do it day in and day out with love and devotion. It is a beautiful thing to see, and to be a part of, even if it is a tiny part.
If you have not experienced Leonardo’s Lavender yet, I invite you to do so! My personal experience is that it is incredible for deep muscle pain, and also contributes to deep, restful sleep. It is one of our most popular lavenders, and will enable you to participate in our annual donation program to animals in need.
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