PUSLINCH – One of the donkeys at a local animal sanctuary now has a famous sponsor.
Belinda Carlisle, known for her work as the lead vocalist of the Go-Go’s and as a solo artist, is sponsoring Duke, a donkey at the Donkey Sanctuary of Canada (DSC) in Puslinch.
“Belinda Carlisle was delighted to hear about the donkeys being cared for by the DSC and she fell in love with Duke!” reads a post on X, formerly Twitter, from the DSC. “So, Duke now has Belinda as a very special sponsor!”
The Los Angeles born singer has been known for her support of animal rights and was a co-founder of the Animal People Alliance, a non-profit organization based in Calcutta, India.
Belinda Carlisle was delighted to hear about the donkeys being cared for by the DSC, and she fell in love with Duke! So, Duke now has Belinda as a very special sponsor! https://t.co/P7JLOmMMMG#BelindaCarlisle #sponsoradonkey pic.twitter.com/lbIIyF07tI
— The Donkey Sanctuary of Canada (@DonkeySancCa) September 19, 2023
Dale Gellatly, fund development and communications lead for DSC, explained in a phone call it was a monkey that introduced Carlisle to the sanctuary.
One of DSC's volunteers also work with Pockets Warhol, a painting monkey from the Story Book Farm Primate Sanctuary outside Toronto, who did a series of paintings with Carlisle for the Animal People Alliance. This volunteer told Carlisle about the DSC and being a lover of donkeys, she decided to sponsor the special needs donkey Duke.
"It was a natural fit and a natural connection for her ... anything that we can do that sort of helps spread the word is great," she said.
