This spring, donkeys like Zena and Baxter, both born in 2009, have a bright future, safe in our care, with all the love and attention they deserve for the rest of their lives. Thanks to your support, The Donkey Sanctuary gave newborn Zena the specialist treatment she needed to save her life, and rescued Baxter from an uncertain future.

In 2014 many pregnant mares arrived at our door, rescued from appalling conditions, and a record 14 foals were born into our care. We have a non-breeding policy but we never turn away a donkey in need and our beautiful mothers and foals are guaranteed a safe and loving home for the rest of their lives.

You may recall reading about Zena who was born prematurely early one morning and found curled up in the corner of a stable, lying motionless in the straw. Her doting mother, Flora, was watching over her as she lay quietly, too weak to move. Poor Zena couldn’t stand and wasn’t even strong enough to feed. Without urgent, life-saving treatment from our expert team, she would have died.

The early hours of Zena’s life were crucial and our teams, led by our vet, Elena Barrio, worked around the clock to save her. They carefully and meticulously fed her by bottle to build her strength and they bandaged her legs to give them support. They gently encouraged her to feed from her mother by holding her up on wobbly legs and, with time, she learnt what to do and began to suckle.

Vet Elena diagnosed a potentially fatal condition found in new-born foals, which restricts movement in their joints. Luckily, we reached her just in time and our team carried out several blood tests and x-rays to diagnose the severity of the problem. We gave Zena regular physiotherapy to extend and strengthen her legs and, thanks to the total devotion and expertise of our team, she slowly improved, becoming stronger day by day.

Thankfully, little Zena continued to make remarkable progress and now nearly six years later, she is the picture of health and a delightful character, full of fun.

She is often seen charging around the field at The Donkey Sanctuary in Sidmouth with her friend Mr Khan — a total joy to watch given her fragile start in life.

And what of Baxter the foal? Just before Christmas, as festive celebrations were underway, we rescued another little donkey whom we named Baxter. At just five months old, he had been separated from his mum and dumped at a horse fair in Ireland. Frightened and alone, he had been left fighting for his life.  Fortunately, we reached him in time and gave him the love and kindness he urgently needed.  Now safe in our care at our Sanctuary in Ireland, he is on the way to recovering from his traumatic ordeal.

And this is all thanks to our many supporters just like you! Your support allows us to continue creating these happy endings for donkeys like Zena and Baxter.

However, we still need your help to give more desperate donkeys all the love and kindness they deserve for the rest of their lives.  Please help us again today so that our team of experts will be able to give more donkeys the exceptional, life-saving care they need.

Every donation you feel able to give, no matter how small, will be gratefully received and will make a difference.

You can choose to give a regular gift, which allows us to plan for the future, or to give a single donation.

Thank you for caring. The donkeys we help owe so much to your kindness.