At his first birthday party, William, a donkey being cared for at Peace for Ponies animal rescue, received a visit from one of Onset’s oldest residents.

“She saw the announcement in the paper and had to come down,” said Marian Rose, who brought her 103-year-old mother, Mary Vieira Rose, to an open house Peace for Ponies hosted. “She has a lot of happy memories from her childhood when her family owned donkeys.”

An Onset native, Mary and her six siblings each had their own donkey. She recalled riding them to church on Sunday mornings. Inside one of Peace for Ponies’ animal pens, Mary visited with a curious and playful William on Nov. 25.

The event doubled as a fundraiser for the 501(c)(3) nonprofit, said Director Kendra Bond. Founded in 2012 at Bond’s home on Great Neck Road, Peace for Ponies rescues miniature donkeys and horses from slaughter houses as well as a variety of other animals.

“We’ll take in just about any animal that comes down our driveway,” said Bond.

The open house welcomed visitors who were invited to watch Sophia, a rescued pig, perform tricks and William, his brother Benjamin and a miniature horse named Hillary frolic in the pen. Several vendors were on hand selling items with some of the proceeds going to benefit the nonprofit.

Bond said thanks to a $2,500 grant from Ocean Spray, she plans on building a classroom on the property soon for lessons on animal care.

Volunteers are always welcome at Peace for Ponies, Bond noted, adding that the nonprofit runs entirely on donations. She’s seeking people to help care for the animals and anyone with skills, such as carpentry, to help out around the property.

For more information or to volunteer, visit www.peaceforponies.com.