A day in the life of a donkey welfare adviser

Go behind the scenes with Donkey Welfare Adviser Jessica Bush at Appleby Horse Fair and learn we’re doing to promote better equine welfare in the community.

“I have been part of the equine world for as long as I can remember,” says Jess, who joined the team last year to develop her experience in education and public engagement. Jessica is one of 14 Donkey Welfare Advisers at The Donkey Sanctuary, covering the Essex, Suffolk, London and Hertfordshire area.

“I can remember as a young child I spent all the time I could around horses and ponies, and when I moved to Essex with my family I was lucky enough to grow up on a smallholding and care for my own horses. I’d spend endless hours learning equine husbandry, observing and assessing their behaviour and body language, so it was only natural my passion for equines led me into the world of animal welfare.”

Getting my donkey fix!

Previously an RSPCA Inspector, Jessica is no stranger to the challenges of working in animal rescue but says “there is no better feeling than knowing that I have made a difference in the life of an animal.” Her role as Donkey Welfare Adviser now sees her educating and sharing her knowledge with members of the public and owners to help support and offer advice.

“A typical day for me might involve supporting our amazing Rehoming Scheme by equipping our guardian owners with the knowledge to deliver the best donkey care. I can’t deny that one of my favourite parts of the job is talking to our lovely guardians and seeing our donkeys in such special homes. It’s a great way to get my donkey fix!

Taking action to prevent suffering

“On the other side of the coin, I also deal with welfare concerns and take appropriate action to prevent poor welfare and suffering by helping owners experiencing challenges with keeping their donkeys. As much as possible we support donkeys to stay in the community, so we aim to help owners find good welfare solutions for their donkeys – whether that’s through rehoming or support with care.

“Some of the common welfare issues I see are donkeys not receiving adequate veterinary care and routine treatment, such as dental and farriery, which can lead to longer term health conditions. Overcrowding is also something we see due to too many animals and a lack of space. Understanding if your donkey is under or overweight can often be difficult for owners too, so we’ve created lots of resources on our website for learning how to monitor and manage your donkey’s weight.

Community outreach at Appleby Horse Fair

“Engaging with donkey owners and the general public is a really important part of our role. I was part of the engagement team at Appleby Fair this year which involved interacting with the public and equine owners, together with colleagues from RSPCA, Redwings Horse Sanctuary, Blue Cross, World Horse Welfare, Bransby Horses, The British Horse Society, Oak Tree Animals and The Horse Trust. As we chatted with owners we listened to the challenges they’re facing and were able to offer expert guidance and advice. We always encourage families to get involved, with a “knitted neddy” prize which the children loved!

“This was my first visit to Appleby Fair with The Donkey Sanctuary, so I didn’t know what to expect but I really enjoyed hearing people’s experiences and seeing their genuine interest in equine welfare. You can see me here checking over one of the fair’s mules, Malcolm, who was in great condition and even won a ‘Best at Appleby’ award!

“I love being part of a team that is passionate and dedicated in helping to achieve our vision that all donkeys and mules are free from suffering and fully valued,” reflects Jess. “I wanted to be part of an international animal welfare organisation that offers care and protection to donkeys and mules not only in the UK, but across the world. So working for The Donkey Sanctuary is an absolute dream!”