Source:  News Release

Top award for Hayling Island beach donkey

This  Wednesday (2 November 2011), welfare officers from international animal welfare charity The Donkey Sanctuary will be presenting top regional awards to prize-winning working donkey owners on Hayling Island, Hampshire.

Paul and Tracy Hunt’s donkey Rusty has been given the title of Best Individual Donkey 2011 (South and South East England) by the donkey-welfare charity whose ‘Working Donkey Awards’ scheme recognises owners achieving good standards of welfare for their donkeys in individual regions of the UK. 

Mark Kerr, the Sanctuary’s regional welfare officer said: “Rusty provides traditional donkey rides near the beach at Hayling Island, is very well cared for and has a lovely, friendly nature.  He ticks every box for us.”

Media are invited to take photographs at the presentation, which is due to take place at 1:30pm at the donkeys’ yard on Hayling Island. For more details please contact Mark Kerr on 07770 683767.

Around 1,000 donkeys work on UK beaches giving traditional rides to children.   The Donkey Sanctuary’s Code of Practice for Working Donkeys, which sets out maximum weight limits and regular breaks, is widely accepted by owners up and down the country.  

  For more information on The Donkey Sanctuary’s work with working donkeys, please visit  www.thedonkeysanctuary.org.uk/welfare.