A rescued Zebra donkey mix named Zeyore from Seein’ Spots Farm in Solvang is in first place for the title of America’s Favorite Pet.
The first round of voting ended last week and Zeyore finished in the top 20 of his group. The second round of voting ends at 7 p.m. Thursday.
Zeyore is a 10-year-old zebra-donkey hybrid — a zonkey— that was rescued from a petting zoo after he grew too big to care for.
Zeyore has been with the Marchi family in Solvang for nine years at their family ranch called Seein’ Spots — a farm that rescues donkeys, mini donkeys and goats.
Zeyore was entered into the pet competition by 16-year-old Gia Chavez who volunteers at the farm on weekends with her mom, Caryn.
Among his competition are a ferret named Misha, a chinchilla named Arturo, a chameleon named Dante and a chicken named Madame Cluckington.
The winner of the title for America’s Favorite Pet receives $10,000 and a two-page spread in InTouch magazine.
The prize money would be significant to the farm because it would help to cover costs of everything from fence repairs to chicken feed, according to Linda Marchi, owner and manager of Seein’ Spots.
“It’s been really hard,” Marchi said. “There’s a lot of animals needing homes. We have been getting calls all the time lately for homes for animals and we’re kind of at capacity here.”
Seein’ Spots first opened in 2005 and has been growing in size over the past decade. The farm houses horses, donkeys, pigs, goats, sheep, cows and chickens.
The farm takes care of over 150 animals (if you count the chickens), Marchi said.
In order to raise money for the animals, the farm offers tours for $10.
America’s Favorite Pet is the second-largest supporter of PAWS.org, a nonprofit that supports sick, injured and homeless animals.
To view Zeyore’s competition and vote for him as America’s Favorite Pet, click here.
— Noozhawk staff writer Grace Kitayama can be reached at gkitayama@noozhawk.com. Follow Noozhawk on Twitter: @noozhawk. Connect with Noozhawk on Facebook.