Source:  News Release

Working donkey winners announced

International animal welfare charity The Donkey Sanctuary has today commended the welfare standards of working donkeys around the UK who provided beach rides over the summer holidays.

 The charity’s Working Donkey Awards scheme recognises owners achieving good standards of welfare for their donkeys in individual regions of the UK. Top awards for 2011 go to the following winners and their donkeys:

  South West England  

  ·         Best Group winner in South West England - Operator Julie Wibrow (Paignton, Devon)  

  ·         Best Single donkey in South West England - Ben belonging to Julie Wibrow (Paignton, Devon)

 South & South East England

  ·         Best Group – Operator Melanie Rush (Weymouth, Dorset)  

  ·         Best Trimmed Feet –Operator Melanie Rush, Farrier Colin Deeney (Weymouth, Dorset)

  ·       Best Individual Donkey – Rusty belonging to Paul & Tracy Hunt (Hayling Island)

  ·       Best Child friendly Donkey – Sam belonging to Tom Turnbull (Dymchurch Donkeys)

 North Wales

  ·         Best Individual Donkey - Moses belonging to Louise Peeters (Dyfi Donkeys, Aberdyfi)

  ·       Best Group – Operator Louise Peeters (Dyfi Donkeys, Aberdyfi)

Midlands, North West England  

  ·         Best Group– Operator Karen Rickardson (Blackpool)

  ·       Best Individual – Operator Paddy Clews (Blackpool)

  ·       Best Feet – Operators Sue & Marlen Edge (Blackpool) 

Eastern England

·       Group Winners: Parkers Donkeys (GreatYarmouth)

·       Group Winners: Operator Amanda Cook (Cromer)

·       Group Winners: Operator John Nuttall (Skegness)

·       Group Winners: Operator Chris Epton (Skegness)

North East England

·       Best Group - Operator Amanda Pickles (Filey)

·       Best Individual - Oscar belonging to Amanda Pickles (Filey)

Head of Welfare at The Donkey Sanctuary, Michael Crane, explains how the awards work:

“As a charity we seek to work with local councils throughout the UK who are responsible for regulating beach donkeys and providing an identification scheme for the animals. Our welfare officers support beach donkey operators and council representatives by offering high quality, professional advice, training and support on donkey welfare.

“Following on from our Code of Practice for Working Donkeys, we established the Working Donkey Awards.  Every year, our welfare officers present awards for everything from the donkey with the best trimmed feet to the most child-friendly donkey. All those owners receiving awards are being recognised as achieving good standards of welfare for their donkeys.”

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.