Ologies with Alie Ward Asinology (DONKEYS) with Faith Burden
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Jan 28, 2026 
Dr. Faith Burden, asinologist and Director of Research at The Donkey Sanctuary who shifted from microbiology to decades of donkey welfare research. She covers donkey origins and domestication, distinctive adaptations like big ears and brays, mule genetics, myths about stubbornness, caregiving and welfare challenges, riding and load limits, and surprising social and vocal behaviors.
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A Childhood Visit Sparked A Career
- Faith Burden fell in love with donkeys after visiting a sanctuary at age seven and later worked with mules in Tennessee.
- She applied her microbiology background to donkey research and has worked at The Donkey Sanctuary for over 20 years.
'Stubborn' Equals Strategic Caution
- Donkeys are labeled stubborn because they evaluate threats and often freeze rather than flee, reflecting desert survival strategies.
- That cautious intelligence makes them safer for carrying precious cargo than flighty horses.
Donkeys Love Getting A Reaction
- Faith recalls donkeys tugging jacket toggles and opening gates to get reactions, suggesting playful, attention-seeking behavior.
- She interprets these acts as donkeys enjoying the human response rather than mere mischief.
