Meet Bruce Dunbar | Burro handler and joy facilitator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Bruce Dunbar and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Bruce, how does your business help the community?
We basically sell smiles and peace. Donkeys bring joy to everyone they come in contact with, it’s wonderful to watch people’s faces light up when they see the burro, or see an upset person with disabilities get a sense of calm and accomplishment when they interact with a burro.

On a personal level they are much better than anti depressants and they have changed my life and lifestyle immeasurably.

What should our readers know about your business?
We own a beverage or beer burro business, bringing our burros to weddings, parties, libraries, retirement homes, schools and events of all kinds. Nothing makes an event more memorable than having a donkey there. We started during covid which was a blessing and curse at the same time. It was difficult due to restrictions on crowd size, travel and health concerns for everyone. On the other hand it allowed us to start slowly, giving the donkeys time to adjust to crowds, noise and excitement surrounding them. So the first year was rough, I was still working a full time job and we needed to balance my work schedule and booked events. We were on a shoestring budget and did all of our advertising through word of mouth and social media. So we would have a good few weeks and then nothing for a month or so, as time as gone by we are starting to fill some of the gaps between weddings with our pro bono events like schools, libraries and charities. Giving back to the community and promoting our theory that we are all part of One Herd is very important to us.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I would start them out with a horseback ride from our house to the Goldfield Ghostmine in Apache Junction, being able to ride your horse up to the restaurant there and tie up to the Hitching rail to eat lunch is a huge thrill and makes you feel like your part of West. Getting them over to the Salt River to see the wild horses would be high on my list. I would definitely take them to Tombstone and Bisbee, 2 of my favorite places, along the way stopping at The Essence of Tranquility natural spring in Safford, its very low key and waters are very restorative.
Getting them up to Jerome and Sedona would be the end of the just because Sedona is something you need to see and feel for yourself, there is some great hiking and place has an energy. Jerome is a good place to walk around, have a cool drink and see some old architecture.

For food I don’t have a go to, I like to find the small little taco shops along the way and make a nice dinner at home.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My life partner, Gretchen Klett, who I dated when she was in college, found me on Facebook 11 years ago convinced that I needed horses in my life, I was struggling in my life and generally drifting. We reunited and I started volunteering at a horse rescue in Gilbert AZ where they had recently rescued about 15 wild burros, which spurred my interest in donkeys and the effects they have on people struggling with addiction and life in general. She continues to support and inspire me on a daily basis.

Instagram: @beverageburro

Facebook: Pip and Pals@mysweetasspip

Youtube: Bruce Dunbar

Image Credits
All photos taken by me