Donkey Sanctuary
From suffering to joy
Fundraising for The Donkey Sanctuary
Story
Laurel and Hardy had been shut in a filthy stable for over six months and were slowly starving to death. Having been alerted to their plight by a concerned member of the public, one of our welfare officers went to investigate. She was horrified by what she saw. They were starving, hungry and dreadfully thin with lice-infested, matted coats. Their hair was dishevelled and falling off in great clumps, revealing red raw patches of skin; their hooves were so painfully long and twisted that they could barely walk and their bedding was covered in urine and faeces. These animals had been abandoned: they were cold, hungry and alone.
Without the help of our supporters, Laurel and Hardy would not have survived. We rescued them just in time and were able to provide urgent, life-saving veterinary care to give them a second chance.
With expert care and attention, Laurel and Hardy were gently eased along the road to recovery. Their painful hooves were trimmed giving instant relief and allowing them to stand and walk more comfortably. Their sharp teeth were rasped, alleviating sore gums and enabling them to eat without pain. Their coats were trimmed and they were given medicated baths to soothe their sore and itchy skin.
Now, Laurel and Hardy are fit and healthy and enjoying the safety of their new lives at our farm in Sidmouth, Devon. They are contented and loving characters — a far cry from the dejected, miserable animals we found abandoned and alone. It’s amazing to think that despite their horrific ordeal, Laurel and Hardy have found the strength to trust humans again.
Sadly, their story is not an isolated one and the recent, widespread economic pressures continue to impact on the number of homeless and abandoned donkeys arriving at our farms. The Donkey Sanctuary receives no government aid and is entirely dependent upon the generosity of our supporters to give donkeys in distress a new life, free from pain and suffering.
Over 15,500 donkeys have been taken into our care here in the UK since The Donkey Sanctuary was founded in 1969 by Dr Elisabeth Svendsen. In overseas countries, we help hundreds of thousands of working donkeys every year who endure gruelling, physical labour carrying heavy loads. The Donkey Sanctuary gives them relief from harness sores, overgrown hooves and other painful conditions through expert veterinary care.
Please help The Donkey Sanctuary today. A regular gift by Direct Debit will help us to plan for the future and have essential, life-saving resources available when we need them most; alternatively, you might prefer to make a single online donation.
Thank you - your support will help to give abandoned and rescued donkeys the chance of a future, free from pain and cruelty.
Here at The Donkey Sanctuary we give life-long care and love to donkeys that have nowhere left to turn.
- Donating £5 today can rescue abandoned and neglected donkeys from terrible conditions by helping to keep our emergency rescue vehicles on the road.
- Donating £25 today can give an abandoned donkey relief from painful hooves. Donkeys’ hooves need to be checked and trimmed regularly by the farrier to ensure they are in good condition and free from pain.
- Donating £16 today can give two abandoned donkeys the nutrition they need to start their recovery to good health. Many of the donkeys we rescue are malnourished and underweight and need a carefully managed diet to help them build up their strength and set them on the road to recovery.
- Donating £40 today can provide rescued donkeys with comfort from painful teeth. Many abandoned donkeys suffer with poor teeth, making it difficult for them to eat and stay healthy. A visit to the equine dentist can turn their lives around, enabling them to eat in comfort