Today we’d like to introduce you to Terrie Bass.
Hi Terrie, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Burro Buddies started from a simple love for animals and the joy they bring people. I’ve always been an animal person, but donkeys in particular completely stole my heart. Their personalities, intelligence, gentleness, and emotional connection with people and each other are unlike anything else. What began as having donkeys simply because we needed a buddy for one of our lonely horses after his friend passed, slowly turned into realizing just how much happiness they brought to everyone around them.
I’ve spent over 13 years working as a Registered Nurse in various high-acuity hospital settings. Nursing taught me so much about people — especially how important connection, comfort, and meaningful moments really are. After years spent caring for others in intense environments, Burro Buddies became something that brought a different kind of joy into my life: creating moments where people could laugh, slow down, connect, and simply be happy for a little while.
The idea for Beverage Burros came after seeing how much excitement and interaction the donkeys created everywhere they went — even on my social media pages. I realized they could become more than just animals people admired from afar; they could become part of unforgettable experiences and memories.
Burro Buddies is a truly family-run business based in Northeast Florida that brings our miniature donkeys to weddings, parties, markets, corporate events, and community gatherings. While we love all kinds of events, weddings quickly became our specialty because cocktail hour is the perfect time for our donkeys to shine — creating conversation, laughter, and built-in photo opportunities that naturally bring people together.
Every donkey is trained by me with patience, trust, and their welfare as the priority because they are first and foremost my personal pets — not just event animals. What people see at events is one magical hour, but behind that is countless hours of training, grooming, planning, and relationship-building so the donkeys genuinely enjoy what they do.
What means the most to me is hearing how much the donkeys impacted someone’s day. We’ve watched nervous brides relax the moment they hugged a donkey, quiet guests light up with excitement, and entire groups of strangers suddenly start talking, laughing, and connecting with each other. In a world that feels so fast-paced and stressful, these little donkeys somehow create moments that feel simple, genuine, and joyful — and I truly love being able to bring that to people.
Burro Buddies has already grown far beyond what I ever imagined, but at its core it’s still about the same thing it was in the beginning: my husband and I sharing animals we love deeply and creating experiences people remember long after the event is over.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It definitely has not been a completely smooth road, and honestly I think that’s part of what makes Burro Buddies so meaningful to me. This business was built during real life — not in perfect conditions, and I have put my entire heart into it.
I’ve continued working full time as a Registered Nurse while growing Burro Buddies from the ground up, so there have been a lot of long days, late nights, and learning how to balance two completely different worlds. Nursing is demanding emotionally and physically, and then coming home to care for animals, answer inquiries, train donkeys, manage social media, handle bookings, and learn every aspect of running a business has been a huge undertaking. A lot of people see the fun event side of what we do, but behind the scenes there’s a tremendous amount of work and sacrifice. There were and still are definitely moments of exhaustion and self-doubt where I questioned whether I could realistically continue juggling everything and make this work, but the feedback from customers has kept me going.
One of the biggest learning curves has honestly been shifting my mindset from being a nurse to becoming an entrepreneur. In nursing, you’re trained to care for people, solve problems quickly, and work within structured systems. Running a business requires a completely different skill set — marketing, branding, coordination, networking, customer service, finances, social media, and learning how to confidently put yourself and your work out into the world. I had to learn all of that as I went.
I also unexpectedly fell in love with the hospitality and wedding industry. Coming into it, I knew animals and healthcare — not events. But the Jacksonville area has such an incredible community of wedding and event professionals, and I’ve met some truly amazing people along the way. From venue owners and planners to bartenders, photographers, and other small business owners, there’s been a lot of support and encouragement that I did not expect.
Even with the struggles, I wouldn’t change the journey. In many ways, the difficult parts made me appreciate the success even more. Seeing something that started from pure passion slowly grow into a real business that brings joy to people has been incredibly rewarding.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
At Burro Buddies, we specialize in creating interactive experiences with our miniature donkeys for weddings, parties, and corporate events, throughout Northeast Florida and Southeast Georgia. While people often first notice the novelty of “beverage burros,” what we really provide is an experience — something memorable that brings people together and creates genuine moments of joy and connection.
There’s something about these little donkeys that immediately breaks the ice and changes the energy of a room. Guests who may not know each other suddenly start laughing, talking, taking photos together, and interacting in a way they may not have otherwise. We love being part of those moments.
What sets Burro Buddies apart is that this business is deeply personal to me. These aren’t just animals we use for events — they are our personal pets, raised, loved, and trained by our family. Their welfare and happiness always come first. We ensure every event is built around making sure the donkeys feel safe, comfortable, and genuinely enjoy what they’re doing, even if it means visiting a venue first to make sure its ideal for us. Because of that foundation of trust and relationship-building, their personalities truly shine during events.
I think another thing that makes us different is the amount of care and preparation that goes into every single booking. From custom décor to venue walkthroughs, training sessions, and communication with planners and venues, I put a lot of heart into making each event feel seamless and personalized. We are very intentional about keeping the experience interactive, polished, and guest-focused.
What I’m most proud of honestly isn’t just the growth of the business — it’s the emotional impact these animals have on people. I’m proud that I’ve created something that makes people smile, relax, and connect with each other in a very genuine way. I’m proud that our donkeys are known not only for being adorable, but for being incredibly well cared for, calm, and loved. I really take pride in this, when I get compliments on how clean and calm they are it really means a lot.
I’m also proud that Burro Buddies has grown organically through relationships, word of mouth, and community support. As a small family-run business started while still working full time as a nurse, it’s incredibly rewarding to see something built from passion and hard work become part of so many special memories for people.
Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
At the end of the day, Burro Buddies was never just about bringing donkeys to events. It’s really about creating connection — between people, and even complete strangers. In a world where so much interaction happens through screens and everyone is constantly rushing, it’s amazing to watch these animals slow people down for a moment. They make people laugh, start conversations, and just enjoy being present in the moment.
I think that’s why this business means so much to me. It combines so many things I love — caring for people, and caring for animals. We’ve met some incredible people through this journey, and the support from the Jacksonville and Northeast Florida community has truly been overwhelming in the best way.
Burro Buddies is also truly a family effort behind the scenes. My husband puts in so much work helping get the donkeys ready for events, assisting with decorating and styling them, making sure our trailer and equipment stay in great shape, and joining me at bridal expos and venue showcases as well as being my biggest cheerleader. Our daughter helps whenever she can, and my best friend Amanda has also been a huge support throughout this journey. Small businesses may have one visible face, but there are always people behind the scenes helping make it all possible, and I’m incredibly grateful for the support from my family and friends as I created this business.
I also hope Burro Buddies encourages people to pursue the things they feel passionate about, even if it feels scary or unconventional at first. This business started with simply loving my donkeys and wanting to share them with others, and it has grown into something far bigger and more meaningful than I ever imagined.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.burrobuddies.net
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/burrobuddiesfl/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BurroBuddiesfl
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@burrobuddiesfl
