Sanctuary is a safe place.

Sponsor your very own mule at our Refuge for $25 a month.

HOW IT WORKS

A sanctuary mule is considered to be any mule that remains at Lost Meadows for 2 or more years. Sometimes, mules move on from our sanctuary into our training program and become adoptable. But despite our best training and rehabilitation efforts, some mules in our care will never be able to leave Lost Meadows because of a terminal medical condition, extreme trauma from abuse, or aggression that makes them unsuitable for adoption. 

They have no other safe place to live besides Lost Meadows. Here, they always receive the same care as our other mules and are well looked after. We call these mules our sanctuary mules. Currently, 55 out of 87 of our mules are considered sanctuary mules.

Because mules can live for 30-40 years, the cost of each sanctuary mule is immense over time, from their daily hay to veterinary care. It costs over $5,000 monthly to maintain our sanctuary program. This means Lost Meadows must manage our numbers carefully and ask for sponsorships to help with each mule’s cost of care. Sponsorships are vital to maintain the existence of our sanctuary program. Most other rescues cannot afford the cost of a sanctuary.

Lost Meadows is based in Caldwell, Texas, and NO LONGER has a facility in Virginia. Our Refuge also has mules at training sites in Big Spring, Liberty Hill, and McKinney throughout the year.

For $25 a month, you can sponsor the mule of your choice. Sponsors are more than welcome to visit our facilities and see their sponsored mule during most of the year.

If your sponsored mule gets adopted, your sponsorship will be transferred to the next mule in need.

  • IN MEMORY OF MATTHEW

    Rescued in summer 2020, Matthew was our most well-known rescue mule. Matthew was rescued from extremely severe neglect with chronic laminitis. Matthew gently passed away at Lost Meadows in fall 2022.

  • AUTUMN

    Rescued in fall 2020, Autumn the horse is Journey’s the mule’s mom. She was rescued from a place with jack donkeys and confirmed pregnant. 7 months later, Journey was born!

    Click here to sponsor Autumn!

  • ROSE, SPONSORED BY ELLSWORTH RETTAMMEL

    Rose is a senior Molly mule rescued from a local auction in September 2024. She is very underweight and has some health issues that are currently being rehabilitated. Rose could use multiple sponsors to help with her care costs.

    Click here to sponsor Rose!

  • GRIFFIN, SPONSORED BY FAITH GENCER

    Rescued in 2024, Griffin is a 17 year old John mule who came to Lost Meadows in poor condition with ringbone in both front feet. He has since been rehabilitated and due to his leg condition will stay here permanently as an ambassador.

  • ELI

    Surrendered in 2024, Eli is a 16 year old John mule who came to Lost Meadows after his previous owner entered a health battle. We promised he would stay at LMMR as a mule ambassador.

    Click here to sponsor Eli!

  • SUDS

    ADOPTED

  • SYLVESTER, SPONSORED BY ELIZABETH M DIETZ

    Rescued in 2024, Sylvester is an 11 year old John mule who was never gelded. He has since been gelded at LMMR and will enter our training program in 2025.

  • HOWDY, SPONSORED BY CHRISTI FAGERSTONE

    Surrendered from Kansas in 2024, Howdy is an 18 year old John mule who came to Lost Meadows after he became dangerous when trimming his back feet. Howdy is now a member of our sanctuary where he can safely receive hoof trims in our tilt chute.

  • RAISIN

    Surrendered in 2024, Raisin is an 11 year old John mule who came to Lost Meadows after his previous owner entered a health battle. He will go into our training program in 2025.

    Click here to sponsor Raisin!

  • JOURNEY

    is the very first baby mule ever born at Lost Meadows! Journey was born on May 19, 2021. Follow our social media to see weekly updates of her progress here!

    Click here to sponsor Journey!

  • IN MEMORY OF REBA

    Rescued in summer 2021, Reba was our oldest resident at 40 years of age. Reba was rescued from neglect by the HSPCA in Texas and transferred into our care. Reba gently passed away at our Refuge last year.

  • IN MEMORY OF MARLOW

    Rescued in summer 2021, Marlow was a 20 year old Molly mule rescued from severe neglect in Texas in summer 2021. She was starving and had extremely overgrown feet. Marlow spent 3 months at our Refuge being rehabilitated before her passing. She will always be remembered and greatly missed by us at the Refuge.

  • SCOOTER

    Rescued in winter 2023, Scooter is a 23 year old retired government packing mule. Scooter packed for the National Park Service for 13 years before being decommissioned into our care. Scooter needs a sponsorship to help with all of his extra feed.

    Click here to sponsor Scooter!

  • LOUISE

    Rescued in spring 2022, Louise is a 17 year old mule rescued from extreme neglect in Virginia.

    Click here to sponsor Louise!

  • CLYDE

    Rescued in spring 2022, Clyde is a 17 year old mule rescued from extreme neglect in Virginia.

    Click here to sponsor Clyde!

  • NINA

    is a 2 year old Molly mule rescued in spring 2022. She is being given time to grow and settle in our sanctuary before going into our training program in 2024.

    Click here to sponsor Nina!

  • LOLITA

    is a 15 year old Molly mule rescued in spring 2022. She is currently in training in Liberty Hill and will hopefully become adoptable soon!

    Click here to sponsor Lolita!

  • NEWMAN

    was a 12 year old John mule rescued in spring 2023. Newman was horrifically abused and forced to pull a cart for miles and miles down asphalt roads with extremely damaged knees. His previous owner bragged that he has been worked over 100,000 miles. If any mule deserved sanctuary, it was Newman. Newman was laid to rest in the early spring of 2025.

  • CYRUS

    is an 8 year old John mule rescued in Texas in February 2023. Cyrus is a massive, unhandled mule and will spend some time in our sanctuary before going into our training program.

    Click here to sponsor Cyrus!

  • PEPPER

    Rescued in 2024, Pepper is a 2 year old Molly mule who came to Lost Meadows after being sold at auction unhandled. She will go into our training program in 2025.

    Click here to sponsor Pepper!

  • MARLIN

    Rescued in 2024, Marlin is a 12 year old John mule who came to Lost Meadows with a biting problem. He will go into our training program in 2025.

    Click here to sponsor Marlin!

  • JOHNNY

    is a 5 year old mule surrendered in Texas in summer 2022.

    Click here to sponsor Johnny!

  • JUNIE

    Rescued in 2019, Juni is an 11 year old Molly mule. She has graduated our training program and been returned from an adoption due to no fault of her own. Right now Junie is enjoying her time back at Lost Meadows as an ambassador.

    Click here to sponsor Junie!

  • JUNIPER

    is a 3 year old Molly mule rescued from severe neglect along with Sky in summer 2022.

    Click here to sponsor Juniper!

  • RALPH

    is an 18 year old John mule rescued in Virginia in fall 2022. He went into our training program for a year but did not graduate and is now a member of our sanctuary.

    Click here to sponsor Ralph!

  • IN MEMORY OF TOMMY

    was a John mule rescued in Kentucky in spring 2022. He was rescued sick, underweight and with very poor feet. Sadly Tommy lost his health battle despite our best efforts, but he will always be a part of Lost Meadows.

  • CAROLINE

    Caroline is a 7 year old Molly mule surrendered in Missouri in fall 2022. She is currently in our training program to become adoptable!

    Click here to sponsor Caroline!

  • LORRAINE

    is a 12 year old Molly mule rescued in Texas in 2019.

    Click here to sponsor Lorraine!

  • MISTY

    Rescued in 2025, Misty is a 6 year old Molly mule who came to Lost Meadows from a local auction. She will go into our training program in 2025.

    Click here to sponsor Misty!

  • DALLAS

    Rescued in 2025, Dallas is a 3 year old Molly mule who came to Lost Meadows from a local auction. She will go into our training program in 2025.

    Click here to sponsor Dallas!

  • HENDRIX

    is a 7 year old John mule surrendered to our Refuge in 2019. He is currently in our foster program awaiting a forever home.

    Click here to sponsor Hendrix!

  • BAMBI

    ADOPTED

  • CAPTAIN, SPONSORED BY HELEN FLEMING

    Surrendered in 2025, Captain is a 17 year old John mule who came to Lost Meadows with extremely overgrown and thrushy feet. He is currently being rehabilitated and will join our sanctuary once he is healthy.

  • JOHNSON

    is a 16 year old John mule surrendered to Lost Meadows in 2019. He has some problems with proprioception and balance on uneven ground, likely due to a brain injury as a foal, so he remains in our sanctuary to be cared for.

    Click here to sponsor Johnson!

  • BENNY

    ADOPTED

  • PIPER

    is a 13 year old Molly mule rescued in Frankfort, Indiana in 2018.

    Click here to sponsor Piper!

  • DIGBY

    is a 6 year old John mule rescued in Michigan in 2019. He is currently in our training program to learn good behaviors!

    Click here to sponsor Digby!

  • TRUMAN

    ADOPTED

  • HOWIE

    ADOPTED

  • HOLLY

    is a 10 year old Molly mule rescued in Georgia in 2020. She is currently in our training program to learn good behaviors!

    Click here to sponsor Holly!

  • WOODY

    ADOPTED

  • BELLA

    ADOPTED

  • IN MEMORY OF ODIN, SPONSORED BY ERIC SMITH

  • ROSIE

    is a 14 year old Molly who was a rescue transfer from Dansville, Michigan in 2019. Rosie is a master escape artist and can sometimes be aggressive towards people.

    Click here to sponsor Rosie!

  • DOUGLAS

    ADOPTED

  • MAVERICK

    is a 15 year old John who was transferred to us from Oregon by his loving owner in 2019 after handling his feet became too difficult. Maverick is a very sweet mule but is extremely fearful of having his feet worked on. We have made great progress in being able to pick up Maverick's front feet and hope that someday he will trust us enough to work on his back feet.

    Click here to sponsor Maverick!

  • ZSA ZSA

    ADOPTED

  • PIRATE

    Click here to sponsor Pirate!

  • CHERRY

    is an 11 year old John mule rescued in Tennessee in 2020. He is in our training program this year to learn good behaviors!

    Click here to sponsor Cherry!

  • IN MEMORY OF MARSHA

  • ROSEANNE

    is a 9 year old Molly mule rescued from a hoarding situation in Texas in 2019.

    Click here to sponsor Roseanne!

  • IN MEMORY OF SIMON

    was a 23 year old John mule rescued in Texas in 2010.

  • IN MEMORY OF MAXWELL

  • IN MEMORY OF JASPER

  • WINONA

    is a 9 year old mule who was rescued with 27 other mules from Chapel Hill, Tennessee in 2020. Winona has permanent damage to her face and jaw from a halter that was left on for years and had grown in to her face. She is very fearful of people.

    Click here to sponsor Winona!

  • IN MEMORY OF BARTHOLEMEW

  • CALLI, SPONSORED BY SABINE LAZO

    is a 15 year old Molly mule rescued in Texas in 2010.

  • ASIA

    is a 6 year old Molly mule who was rescued with 27 other mules from Chapel Hill, Tennessee in 2020.

    Click here to sponsor Asia!

  • EMMA

    is an 11 year old mule who was transferred to us by law enforcement in Texas in 2018. Emma is missing her left eye and used to be so afraid of people that she would bite, but she is slowly learning to trust us and will walk up and take treats from our hands. Lorraine is her very best friend.

    Click here to sponsor Emma!

  • SOPHIE

    is a 6 year old Molly who was rescued in Michigan in 2019. Sophie is a master escape artist, so she stays at LMMR where we know she can be safely contained.

    Click here to sponsor Sophie!

  • ANTHEM

    is a 14 year old John picked up by law enforcement as a stray in Dallas, Texas in 2012.

    Click here to sponsor Anthem!

  • GEORGIE

    ADOPTED

  • JOSIE, SPONSORED BY PATTI PORTER

    is a 6 year old Molly mule rescued from a hoard in Texas in 2019.

  • TILTY

    is a 12 year old Molly mule rescued in Texas in 2009.

    Click here to sponsor Tilty!

  • CHARM

    ADOPTED

  • BRANDON

    ADOPTED

  • IN MEMORY OF TIMOTHY

  • HENRY

    Henry was a 30 year old horse who was rescued with an entire herd of donkeys by PVDR in 2020 and then transferred to our rescue. He had bilateral fibrotic myopathy in his back legs, so he required special care and lots of feed. Henry gently passed away at our Refuge in 2022.

  • MARLA

    is a 20 year old Molly mule rescued in Chapel Hill, Tennessee in 2020.

  • IN MEMORY OF BECCA

  • MARY

    was a 20 year old Molly mule rescued in Aguanga, California in 2010. She was rescued with a broken leg that had already fused together. Although she was disabled, we kept her comfortable until she gently passed away in early 2023.

  • IN MEMORY OF HOPE

    was a 34 year old Molly mule rescued in Dansville, Michigan in 2019.

  • IN MEMORY OF AMELIA

    was a 24 year old Molly mule rescued in Hallsburg, Texas in 2019.

  • IN MEMORY OF MARSHMALLOW

  • IN MEMORY OF WILMA