Click here to see pictures from around our farm.
About Us
Our small farm is located in northeastern Pennsylvania. I enjoy raising Miniature donkeys…just for the heartfelt love that I share with them. Every one of the donkeys gets special “human time” every day, and it’s hard to believe, but no matter how stressful my day or how tired I am…I always feel so much better after I’ve been to the barn.
My goal is to raise quality, friendly animals and to promote the true benefits of owning Miniature donkeys. Finding wonderful homes for my donkeys, where they will be loved and well cared for, is also of vital importance in my breeding program.
Their warm, loving, gentle, docile persona make Miniature donkeys the perfect match for any loving owner. Donkeys will be the truest “best friend” to anyone who cares for them.
Contact Us
If you are interested in purchasing any of our animals, please email us at info@treasuredtyiesminidonks.com or call (570) 925-2848.
Our address is:
Kathy Houck
173 Dotyville Rd
Benton, PA 17814
Here is an interactive map to help you get to our farm.
How This Started
The first time I saw Miniature donkeys was at the Ohio Equine Affair in 2000. I had always been a horse person to the core - loved my Arabian horses! In the midst of all the hustle and bustle, noise, and people milling everywhere, there was a team of four Miniature donkeys very calmly pulling a miniature wagon. It was the cutest thing ever, and I was mesmerized. I talked to the man driving, and he told me where they were stabled. Needless to say, I found them. I will never forget the first Miniature donkey I actually came into contact with, a gelding named Clyde. Now, I had made a promise to my husband when I bought my last Arabian: “That’s it! No more…I promise!”
My friend who went with us to Ohio came home and found donkeys. She and I visited donkey farms…but I promised! One Saturday, up my driveway she came with her trailer. She opened it - and there was a donkey. Two weeks later she bought her second donkey…but I promised. We went to auctions, twice a year for three years…but I was good and did not buy a donkey.
Eventually my friend’s donkey had her first foal. I picked up that dear sweet creature and tears came down my cheek. No donkeys for me, I promised!
In the meantime, my first grandson was born. As a three year old, he loved horses, but horses and three year olds are not a safe combination, so the horses and Austin were a constant concern. He had no fear. My husband suggested we buy a couple of goats. I’m not sure how this happened, but I suggested donkeys, he said okay, and thus came Betty and Ellie – our first two jennets. It was perfect, Austin loved them! He forgot about the horses. He could go in with the donkeys, as he got older, he crawled all over them and they loved him right back. There was never a wrong move on their part. Austin is 6 years old now, and we have 11 donkeys. In 2009 we had three babies. What a pleasure!
The moral to this story is be careful what you promise! Thank you, Austin, Grammy loves you.
