Source:  News Release

Foster donkey cuddles are just what the doctor ordered

Hundreds of neglected, unwanted or unloved donkeys come to international animal welfare charity The Donkey Sanctuary each year to be guaranteed a sanctuary for life. Young and healthy donkeys relinquished to the charity can enjoy the individual love and attention that a private home can provide through their fostering scheme.  Whilst this is great for the donkeys, there are many benefits for people as well.

Mary Beetham has been fostering donkeys with The Donkey Sanctuary at her home near Preston in Lancashire for over a decade, and has seen firsthand how spending time with the donkeys is not only fun, but can actually improve people’s health.  She explains how her two foster donkeys, 28 year old Humphrey and 20 year old Jacko, helped nine year old Amy recover from a serious illness:

“During the last summer and autumn a lovely little girl called Amy who lives in the village was very ill, fortunately she is now well on the way to recovery.  I tell you this because her parents are convinced that my Humphrey and Jacko played a big part in her progress.  When she began to improve, her mother struggled to find suitable activities for her to do and she was bored.  I invited them to come and see the donks.  On their first visit they were amazed how gentle and friendly Humphrey and Jacko were.  She is a very intelligent girl and quickly learnt to put on a head collar and lead rope; Jacko couldn’t believe his luck, he must have walked miles! Humphrey has arthritis so didn’t want to be lead round the field but enjoyed being groomed.  Since this first visit Amy and her family have come frequently and developed a real bond with the donkeys – I don’t know who enjoys it most!”

Amy says: “A few months ago I first went to see Humphrey and Jacko, two donkeys fostered by Mary. I thoroughly enjoyed the visit and really loved looking after them. I groomed and fed the donkeys and then also walked Jacko.  Humphrey and Jacko were very lovable and after looking after them I did not want to go home.  The donkeys are very calm and look especially happy and I really enjoyed the visit.”

If you think that your family could foster donkeys, why not contact The Donkey Sanctuary?  You don’t need to have kept horses or donkeys before or even be used to handling equines to apply to foster donkeys.  The Donkey Sanctuary offers free training courses to give you a taste of what keeping donkeys could be like, and their dedicated team of welfare officers are on hand 24/7 to offer you support and advice once your donkeys arrive.

Anyone thinking of fostering donkeys will need to be able to provide:

•           Around half an acre of grazing per donkey

•           A stable/shelter - unlike horses donkeys do not have waterproof coats

•           A hard standing area - donkeys have really porous feet and need to be able to get off the grass when it is wet

•           Robust fencing - a must as donkeys are great escape artists!

Don’t worry if you haven’t got some or all of these in place yet – The Donkey Sanctuary’s team of welfare officers are happy to advise you.

To apply to foster donkeys or simply find out more about the fostering scheme, please visit www.thedonkeysanctuary.org.uk/fostering or call The Donkey Sanctuary’s welfare team on 01395 578222.

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