A sad farewell to adoption donkey Timothy

Timothy lived a long and happy life, spending many years at our Sidmouth sanctuary receiving expert care and treatment. His characterful nature made him a popular donkey who was cherished by many. At the beginning of this year, his health began to deteriorate. He was diagnosed with a number of illnesses, including colic, a symptom of abdominal pain that can be very serious in donkeys. Our veterinary team were able to treat him with medication and manage his weight through additional feeds. Timothy was monitored closely since his diagnosis, even during the periods that he was responding well to treatment.

Sadly, Timothy’s recent blood test showed severe abnormalities. Even with further medication, it was clear he was no longer responding to treatment and his condition was quickly worsening. Despite the best efforts of our veterinary and farm teams, we made the heartbreaking decision that the kindest course of action was to gently put him to sleep and prevent him from further suffering.

On Wednesday 9 October, Timothy passed away peacefully with his best friend and half-brother Walter by his side. We are keeping a close eye on Walter as he mourns the loss of his companion.

A tribute to Timothy

Timothy was a handsome and popular donkey, whose gorgeous brown nose always made him stand out from the crowd.

Leyla Anstee, Slade House Farm Manager at The Donkey Sanctuary Sidmouth, has paid tribute to Timothy. Recalling fond memories, Leyla says: “Timothy very much enjoyed the company of his grooms.

“He would enjoy waiting for his treats after being groomed and would readily find any treats hidden in the feeders.

“Timothy loved Walter, and the two of them shared a very special lifelong bond until the end. The two were never too far away from each other and could often be spotted grooming each other.

“Timothy will always be remembered for his big heart and kind, loving nature. He will be missed dearly by Walter and his donkey friends in Shelter 2. Rest in peace sweet Timothy.”

Life at the sanctuary

Timothy was born in August 1999 and was a very handsome grey gelding. Along with a group of donkey friends, he came into our care in 2005 when their owners felt that, for personal reasons, they could no longer look after them. They knew, of course, that the donkeys would receive the best possible love and expert care the sanctuary could offer them.

For over ten years his kind and sweet nature helped vulnerable children and adults through our Donkey Assisted Activities programme at our Sidmouth sanctuary. After retiring from Donkey Assisted Activities, Timothy moved to Shelter 1 where he spent many happy years enjoying his retirement. As he grew older he made the move to Shelter 2, joining some of the sanctuary’s older residents who enjoy life at a slower pace. His best friend, and half-brother, Walter was by his side every step of the way. They both loved being in the heart of the sanctuary and receiving attention from all the visitors who came to see them.

Alongside Walter, Timothy would love getting up to all sorts of shenanigans. His favourite game was to knock over the grooms’ kits when they weren’t looking – and he even once locked his groom inside the stable! Timothy was always on hand to cheer up his friends on a dull day and was also great at making new friends and welcoming them to Shelter 2.

After so many active years as part of our Donkey Assisted Activities programmes and his retirement in Shelter 2, there is no doubt that Timothy will be truly missed by staff, visitors and adopters alike.

Note’s to Timothy’s adopters

We know this news will be sad for you to hear, but please rest assured that there is no need for you to do anything. We will be writing to you very soon with more information about your adoption.

Thanks to your support, Timothy lived a long and happy life at The Donkey Sanctuary, where he enjoyed the best possible care in a loving, secure environment.

We are keeping a close eye on Walter and the other donkeys in Shelter 2, who have been receiving plenty of extra love and care as they come to terms with their loss.

If you have consented to receive updates for Timothy in the post, you will receive an autumn update for him either this week or next week. Sadly, he passed away after his update had been mailed.

In his update, you will read about how his health had improved after receiving treatment for some illnesses earlier in the year, which was correct at the time the update was printed. Despite the dedication and expertise of our teams who gave Timothy the best possible care, sadly his health declined.

We are so sorry if this update causes you any upset, but we hope you find some comfort in reading Timothy’s last update and keep it as something to remember him by.

We are so grateful for your support, which helps so many more donkeys across the UK and further afield to live a life free from suffering and neglect.