A sad goodbye to much-loved Rickon

In March 2023, Rickon had a deep skin tumour removed from his underside, and he initially made a good recovery. However, earlier this month our expert veterinary teams sadly found two highly aggressive tumours called sarcoids growing in the same area.

Our veterinary teams were preparing to undertake a surgical procedure to remove the sarcoids, but during his pre-operative examination they discovered Rickon also had a tooth-related infection within his sinus, making it too dangerous for Rickon to undergo surgery.

Unfortunately, the repeated growth of the tumours and their locations were making basic daily life uncomfortable for Rickon. Because of this, along with the serious dental infection, the heartbreaking decision was made on Thursday 21 March to gently put Rickon to sleep. He passed away in comfort and peace, surrounded by loving staff members and best friend Tornado.

A tribute to Rickon

Our team at The Donkey Sanctuary Ivybridge fondly remember their time with Rickon: “Rickon’s almost completely white coat caught the eye of all around him and his playful character soon shone through.

“He became a popular choice for our clients and visitors alike, which played a big role in his promotion to adoption donkey when Pooh and Eeyore retired.

“He especially enjoyed going out for walks and found exploring new environments very exciting. During the quieter times in the day, Rickon could often be found seemingly ‘daydreaming’ with his ears pricked and his gaze falling across the field for long periods of time.”

Kate Melville, Equine Assistant at The Donkey Sanctuary Ivybridge, pays tribute to Rickon: “We are immensely saddened by the loss of such a young and bright member of our herd. We will miss his playful character, his gorgeous face over the yard wall or barn door and our ever-eventful training sessions. We thank him for the time he has given us and the memories that we can all share.”

Life at the sanctuary

Rickon and his best friend Tornado came into The Donkey Sanctuary’s care in Ireland after being seized by the Irish authorities. After spending a couple of years in Ireland together, the pair were moved to our Sidmouth sanctuary before making their way to The Donkey Sanctuary Ivybridge in 2019.

Rickon’s friendly and inquisitive character meant that he loved interacting with people and he never wasted an opportunity to find out what was happening to make sure he wasn’t missing out.

Rickon spent most of his life with best friend Tornado, chasing each other up and down the fields until they had run out of steam. On sunnier days, the pair enjoyed lying out in the fields and soaking up the sun together. We’ll be keeping a close eye on Tornado as he gets used to life without his best friend.

Rickon was such a gorgeous boy both inside and out, and he will be truly missed by all those who knew him. Rest in peace, Rickon.

Note to Rickon’s adopters

There is no need for you to do anything, we will be writing to you as soon as we can with more information about your adoption.

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

Your ongoing support helps to ensure that thousands of other donkeys across the UK and further afield will be given the same opportunity for a life free from suffering and neglect.