Source:  News Release

RSPCA trainees brush up on donkey care

International animal welfare charity The Donkey Sanctuary helped 21 trainee RSPCA inspectors brush up on their donkey welfare knowledge at a special training course at the Sanctuary’s headquarters near Sidmouth yesterday (18 January 2012).

The course, which included theory and practical sessions on donkey care and farriery, as well as a tour of the Sanctuary’s veterinary hospital and facilities, will count towards their RSPCA inspector qualifications.  The training aims to get them used to catching and handling donkeys, help them to recognise signs of health or ill health in donkeys they may come across in their line of work and equip them with the knowledge of where they can get support for donkey welfare issues.

Michael Crane, Head of Welfare at The Donkey Sanctuary, said: “It is fantastic for us to be able to share our expert knowledge of donkey care and welfare with a large and respected national charity like the RSPCA.  The two charities work closely together when investigating instances of potential neglect or ill-treatment, and training days such as this produce a shared understanding which proves to be a great help when it comes to assessing the welfare of donkeys.

“The course may have offered the first encounter that some of these trainees have had with donkeys, and I hope that they have left us with not only a greater understanding but a greater respect for these fantastic creatures.”

The Donkey Sanctuary runs a series of free training courses around the country that are open to anyone who is interested in keeping or caring for donkeys.  Please visit www.thedonkeysanctuary.org.uk/trainingcentre for further details.

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