The Donkey Sanctuary: Abandoned foal Sandy now has a secure future

Source: News Release

Abandoned foal Sandy now has a secure future

A 10 month old mule who was found scared and abandoned on a roadside in Kent earlier this year now has a secure future with international animal welfare charity The Donkey Sanctuary.

The stunning light strawberry roan mule (a donkey-horse hybrid), who has since been named Sandy due to his pale colouring, was reported to the RSPCA in February by a member of the public who was concerned that he was loose on the road and could come to serious harm. He had previously been kept in a field with a number of ponies, but it seems that Sandy had been left behind when the ponies had been moved elsewhere, and had escaped the field after finding himself alone. He also had a painful-looking injury to his nose, leaving him with a loose flap of skin and at risk of infection if his wound remained untreated.

Being very young, Sandy was incredibly nervous of people, but he was eventually caught and taken to a holding base where he would be safe. After no owner could be found for him, Sandy was officially signed over to The Donkey Sanctuary in March, and is now a resident at the charity’s headquarters near Sidmouth in Devon.

Mark Kerr, The Donkey Sanctuary’s regional welfare officer responsible for Kent where Sandy was found, explains:

“We were very concerned for the welfare of this young mule who appeared to be abandoned. It must have been very traumatic and stressful for this youngster to suddenly find himself alone without his companions, and it is believed that he had been left that way for several weeks. Having to cope with that and then the trauma of being loaded onto a lorry made him extremely nervous and fearful of humans. It will take him some time to get over that.

“Since Sandy has been in our care, the wound on his nose has healed up nicely, and while he is still very nervous of being handled, it is lovely to hear that he will tentatively edge up to the fence as people stop and talk to him. We are very glad to be able to give him a safe and secure future with The Donkey Sanctuary, and are sure that he will continue to grow in confidence as he comes to realise that he need not fear being abandoned ever again.”

To report neglect or mistreatment of donkeys, or for free, expert advice for anyone experiencing difficulties in caring for their donkeys, please visit www.thedonkeysanctuary.org.uk.

All of the donkeys taken in now have a sanctuary for life with The Donkey Sanctuary. The charity is funded entirely by donations and takes in an average of eight donkeys each week throughout the UK and Ireland. Call 01392 578222 or visit www.thedonkeysanctuary.org.uk for more information.

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