Donkey rescue

[SantaVera]

70 donkeys rescued from a farm in Wales in 2021 now in the ownership of hte Donkey Sanctury. Rescued from unsuitable living conditions. There are photos on Devon live of the donkeys pre rescue, it doesnt look so bad theres a barn that could do with more bedding or mucking out but they all look ok . It seems a strange case , there are no horrific pics of overgrown hooves or anything like that ( im glad BTW for the donkeys sake.) just wondering why the court signed them all over to the donkey sanctuary. its quite qworrying TBH the fields are no worse than the local horsey fields arond me and the barn though an old agricultural one looks ok.

 

[Widgeon]

The Donkey Sanctuary do seem to be quite....zealous.....in their acquisition of donkeys - I wonder if they were used as expert opinion to decide whether the animals should be removed or not?

On a side note, I was looking at the Blue Cross website the other day and it had a photo of two horses who were rescued from terrible conditions, or similar wording - I wasn't sure whether the attached photo was meant to depict the "terrible conditions" (I suspect this) or the sanctuary's own fields! It looked like a lot of the photos that HHO members have been sharing recently.... I wasn't sure whether to feel guilty.....

 

[cauda equina]

It sometimes seems as if the Donkey Sanctuary's mission is to collect all the donkeys

 

[nagblagger]

I was at a show with my donkey and someone from the sanctuary was wandering around the horseboxes, she was 'examining ' all the donkeys, as she walked away she commented that their services would not be needed..she had a very superior attitude, felt I had passed a test - wtf !
I have also seen them at sales...

However, i have left them my donkeys with provisions if they outlive me because they are looked after for life.

 

[Glitter's fun]

70 donkeys rescued from a farm in Wales in 2021 now in the ownership of hte Donkey Sanctury. Rescued from unsuitable living conditions. There are photos on Devon live of the donkeys pre rescue, it doesnt look so bad theres a barn that could do with more bedding or mucking out but they all look ok . It seems a strange case , there are no horrific pics of overgrown hooves or anything like that ( im glad BTW for the donkeys sake.) just wondering why the court signed them all over to the donkey sanctuary. its quite qworrying TBH the fields are no worse than the local horsey fields arond me and the barn though an old agricultural one looks ok.

Maybe they were about to become unsafe because of the owner's death or poor mental heath or financial problems etc?

 

[Glitter's fun]

It sometimes seems as if the Donkey Sanctuary's mission is to collect all the donkeys

They certainly make it nigh on impossible to adopt them. You don't even get considered if you'd be keeping them with other animals (including other equines). Whatever your qualifications or experience, you need to take their own course in donkey care before even starting the process. Sounds reasonable enough --but there are no courses available, haven't been for years!

 

[MiJodsR2BlinkinTite]

In my part of Devon you can't go ANYWHERE hardly without a donkey looking at you............ or hearing one making the helluva racket that they do.

I was once told by someone who'd worked there (and this was back in the 1980'somethings) that if they never received another penny in charity ££££ then they already had enough stashed away from Wills & good financial Investments to last them for another 100yrs without any need for further fundraising ......

Their operating theatre would apparently put the local NHS hospital's one to shame.

Ohh and if you say (like I offered as have my own land & yard locally) that you could adopt a donkey or two and thereby take just a little of the burden off their hands you are treated as if you have mortally insulted them, and that you are pbviously going to whip & scourge the poor creatures and eat them for dinner. I am not joking! All they seem to do is collect more and more of the things and then put them on-line so people can "adopt" them e.g. for Christmas gifts for people. They usually have a pre-Christmas TV campaign. I mean seriously.

They haven't exactly been popular with the farming community locally; because of their huge wealth of financial resources they have been able to buy up farmland which is not affordable for local farmers just starting out, and they also seem to have a magically harmonious relationship with the local Planning Dept of the local council. Tis funny that.......

Not saying any more!!

 

[Mrs. Jingle]

We have a donkey with an ongoing issue with very sore skin every year when he starts to moult. My vet did all the tests imaginable with skin scrapes, worm counts and blood tests, Everything came back negative, No bacteria, no infection of any sort, no fungal issue. My vet was as flummoxed as we were/still are.

He said he was going to have a word with the donkey sanctuary (here in Ireland, but I believe they are linked to yours in the UK) to see if they had ever dealt with something similar. Apparently when he said it always starts each year when the donkey starts to moult, whoever he was talking to, told him that donkeys don't moult!!!!! They offered to take both my donkeys (I have had little Joseph 15 years and his field buddy bertie nearly 25 years) and they would deal with his skin problem instead of us keeping him!

To say I was furious is a huge understatement, firstly donkeys very much do moult although often a little later than the horses do. So much ignorance from the so called experts. And then to suggest to my vet I hand both my donkeys over for them to look after!!! Luckily my vet instantly put an end to that idea as he knew exactly what I would say to that idea.

We now just go through a yearly ritual at coat change time of double dosing with Ivermectin 2 weeks apart, bathing every other day with a wash that our vet gives us. And coating the sores in a salve that also keeps flies and midges of his skin. Also he wears a fly rug from the moment his winter rug comes off just in case it is in any way related to some form of sweet itch. So basically we will probably never know and will just keep it controlled as best we can.

Don't talk to me about the Donkey Sanctuary, they need a serious overhaul IMO.

 

[suestowford]

I have seen the article, and while it is Devon Live (or Devon Lies as it's known by some), the article does say "The donkeys involved were in varying degrees of distress with many suffering from complications associated with badly overgrown hooves and unsanitary living conditions." It also says many needed urgent dental care, and 20 of them were pregnant.
I couldn't see any of their feet in the 'on location on day of rescue' pics.
This was a multi-agency rescue - the article says these were all involved in it along with the DS. RSPCA and the Police, with support from equine welfare charities Redwings, World Horse Welfare, British Horse Society and Bransby Horses.
This sounds very similar to the numbers involved at Spindles Farm, if you remember that one, and the rescues were criticised then for taking so long to get to the suffering animals. Perhaps they all decided to move on this one before it came down to dead animals in the fields?

 

[Widgeon]

Perhaps they all decided to move on this one before it came down to dead animals in the fields?

If that is the case, then that's encouraging (whatever interesting facts this thread may have thrown up about one of the rescues involved!)

 

[Tiddlypom]

The founder of the Donkey Sanctuary always was on the zealous side . A young me accompanied my parents when they viewed the founder‘s house and few acres which was up for sale many, many years ago. The Donkey Sanctuary was already a thing then.

Empire building comes to mind.

 

[Cortez]

The donkey sanctuary here (Ireland) has over 800 donkeys in at least two farms. It's nigh on impossible to adopt one (other than you-pays-your-money-and-get-a-pic type of thing), and judging by the two enormously luxurious 12-horse lorries in "The Donkey Sanctuary" livery I travelled next to on the ferry, they are extremely well off. Having said all that, I am glad there is an organisation that does actually care for them as donkeys are routinely just left to fend for themselves without any care, and I have taken in a few donkeys and mules with grotesquely neglected feet, wounds, lice, wormy, etc.

 

[Wishfilly]

https://www.itv.com/news/westcountr...ord-number-of-animals-from-squalid-conditions - This ITV article backs up what was said above about the donkeys needing veterinary care and 20 of them being pregnant. Given the RSPCA were involved, and how slow they can be to act, if the charities got involved at the "just before this becomes a crisis" stage, rather than the "dead animals in fields" stage, surely that is a good thing?

I think it's also possible that some of the donkeys, especially the pregnant ones, could have looked in better condition than they were or had health conditions that were going to cause problems that weren't immediately obvious.

The donkey sanctuary's own article has more detail and says one of the donkeys was put to sleep on site on welfare grounds, and also implies that some donkeys were being kept in barns without light. https://www.thedonkeysanctuary.org.uk/news/donkeys-given-second-chance-after-major-rescue-operation

I think there are issues with a lot of the large animal rescue charities, but to me it does sound like had the situation been left until e.g. the 20 pregnant donkeys had given birth, we'd potentially be looking at a Spindle's Farm type situation, and the fact that nearly all the donkeys have survived and been able to give birth safely is probably a good thing?

 

[canteron]

On the positive side, I have 2 donkeys (and have had them for over 20 years) and they have given great advice when asked.
I also think they have pretty much single handedly stopped donkeys being only seen as second class animals and raised their public image, and are a vital resource for vets as well.
So although not a perfect organisation a huge hurrah from me.

 

[paddy555]

the two enormously luxurious 12-horse lorries in "The Donkey Sanctuary" livery I travelled next to on the ferry,

the donkey sanctuary totally put me off giving to animal charities.

In the mid 80's we started to have a little spare money and thought about donating to animal charity. I already had a donkey which I had scraped up off the ground as a 3 month old foal close to death in the snow so donkeys were high on my list.

Went to the Devon County show and saw, to my delight, the Donkey sanctuary stand. It was lovely, the donkeys were so sweet in their matching beautiful rugs. I looked round at their equally matching lorry. It put most of the professional show jumpers lorries to shame. A Rolls Royce of a massive lorry.

I was very naive in those days. I thought that giving money to animal charities meant it would be spent on wormer, hay, feed, farrier, vets etc I didn't really get that they needed perfectly matching rugs or a lorry which equally matched the rugs.

As the years went by and my experience grew I realised the human benefits of running charities.

I was once told by someone who'd worked there (and this was back in the 1980'somethings) that if they never received another penny in charity ££££ then they already had enough stashed away from Wills & good financial Investments to last them for another 100yrs without any need for further fundraising ......

Their operating theatre would apparently put the local NHS hospital's one to shame.

Ohh and if you say (like I offered as have my own land & yard locally) that you could adopt a donkey or two and thereby take just a little of the burden off their hands you are treated as if you have mortally insulted them, and that you are pbviously going to whip & scourge the poor creatures and eat them for dinner. I am not joking! All they seem to do is collect more and more of the things and then put them on-line so people can "adopt" them e.g. for Christmas gifts for people. They usually have a pre-Christmas TV campaign. I mean seriously.

I think your first para is pretty well known.

MIL's friend had a donkey. She was very well off. No family to benefit. Donkey died of old age and she wanted another. She had supported DS for years. So it seemed obvious to adopt a couple from there. (she had her own land/facilities) No way would they let her.
She died and, blow me, left her estate to guess who??

 

[Kaylum]

They were the 6th richest uk charity a couple of years ago.

 

[Snowfilly]

I’m not a great fan of the direction the Donkey Sanctuary have taken but re the matching rugs, it used to be nearly impossible to get rugs designed for donkeys and they used to order them in huge bulk lots, made to a particular template, hence the matching.

Re the holding on to what seems like every other donkey in the country, that’s fairly indefensible I’m afraid.

 

[rabatsa]

When I first got into donkeys in the 1980's I looked into getting one or two from the dondey sanctuary. Their northern regional bod told me that I would never be able to adopt from them as our dairy farm was unsuitable. He gave me the number of a dealer who supplied the whole of the North with beach donkeys and I bought from him instead.

Fast forward to the 2020's and I had an adult donkey that needed castrating. The local vets contacted the sanctuary as they knew donkeys were different to horses. I am not sure exactly what they said to the vet but he went from being willing to castrate to telling me that the sanctuary would do it, it would cost me close to £1,000 and I would have to provide transport to and from Devon. I contacted another vet who did it at a local horspital and it cost me £250 with a two night stay, one pre and one post op. The pre op stay because donkeys do not do starvation very well.

For many reasons the DS will never get a penny from me.

 

[teapot]

Another who has seen the DS' holier than thou attitude first hand...

 

[The Xmas Furry]

2 years ago our local RSPCA branch had 5 donkeys in as part if an uplift. One pair and a family 3 group.
I offered to home the pair but was told that any donkeys go to the DS as soon as they were fit to travel, the RSPCA doesn't ever rehome them as they have this 'arrangement'.
The manager there is furious about it, but it's a edict from on high they can't avoid.

 

[Widgeon]

The manager there is furious about it, but it's a edict from on high they can't avoid.

That's daft isn't it....the RSPCA is picky enough themselves about the homes their animals go to!

 

[The Xmas Furry]

That's daft isn't it....the RSPCA is picky enough themselves about the homes their animals go to!

You'd think so!
Thr arrangement has been in place for many years tho.

 

[Nudibranch]

Can anyone explain why they won't rehome to anyone with horses? I know several people who keep donkeys happily with their horses and have done for many years. I have good facilities, and could easily provide a home but I wouldn't even approach them as I obviously have horses. I'd just like to know what their reasoning is.

And that Blue Cross advert - I was a bit puzzled as well! The two supposed rescue cases had a good condition score and appeared to have plenty of grazing. Perhaps they'd been abandoned or whatever but they definitely didn't look desperate.

 

[cauda equina]

No idea about the donkeys with horses thing; we had both years ago and everybody was happy, especially the little Welsh who absolutely adored the donkey

It's a bit academic though if the DS won't rehome to anyone at all ever

 

[Spotherisk]

Anyone who has queries can just Google, for instance, donkey sanctuary annual accounts, to see what the finances are.

I work for a small charity and have been surprised that people will leave legacies without having made any prior contact. Maybe that’s not so unusual with a big charity though.

 

[Clodagh]

I do know donkeys can give horses lungworm, they are a carrier I think.
But friends of mine have two donkeys from the DS and keep them with horses. They did get the donkeys first but DS inspect annually and haven’t kicked up.

 

[Kaylum]

You have to keep your paddocks very clean if keeping horses and donkeys together and your worming up to date.

 

[MiJodsR2BlinkinTite]

The founder of the Donkey Sanctuary always was on the zealous side . A young me accompanied my parents when they viewed the founder‘s house and few acres which was up for sale many, many years ago. The Donkey Sanctuary was already a thing then.

Empire building comes to mind.

^^^ I was at school and we went past this place every day on the school bus when the DS started up and saw them there. Then they moved out in later years. This was the original site where the DS started up with yep just a few donks.

 

[Spotherisk]

Blimey, they have 2,500 donkeys on their farms?! https://www.thedonkeysanctuary.org.uk/about-us/our-work-in-the-uk/our-farms

 

[rabatsa]

Yes donkeys can carry lungworm but ever since ivermectin came on the scene there is no reason for a donkey to have lungworm.

The horse thing is I believe due to the belief that donkeys form strong bonds with their companions and the sancturary do not want to take in horses.

Also if you already own donkeys and do rehome sancturary donkeys, you have to surrender your donkeys to the sancturary if their donkeys go back.

I was told that my donkey and another were strongly pair bonded. They had met each other half an hour earlier when I picked up the other donkey to go to a show. One brayed after the other when it was taken from the trailer to go into the ring.