Ellie’s remarkable recovery after historic rescue

Ellie was one of dozens of donkeys rescued from a farm in Carmarthenshire. The site was home to many suffering donkeys, all with a range of complex veterinary issues including overgrown hooves, long teeth and lice burdens.

The rescue, which was The Donkey Sanctuary’s most complex and historic to date, was conducted in 2021 as part of a collaborative effort between a host of animal welfare organisations and the police.

On the day of her rescue, Ellie was a sorrowful sight. Her ribs and hip bones could be felt through her dirty coat, which was cloyed with mud and faeces.

Her skinny frame belied her stature – although she was a mammoth donkey and towered over the donkeys suffering around her, Ellie was 80kg lighter than a healthy animal of her size should have been, weighing in at 306kg.

Ellie was transported to our New Arrivals Unit in Sidmouth, Devon, where her road to recovery began.

Sara Blair Salter, our New Arrivals Manager, says: “Ellie was very quiet and withdrawn on arrival, crawling with lice and covered in mud and faeces.

“We had to do our best to make her as comfortable as possible and provide them with everything they needed to recover.”

The months of grime that had built up and hardened into her dull coat was gently teased out by gentle shampooing. The lice burden in her coat was so heavy that Ellie’s coat needed to be entirely clipped so the biting pests could be effectively eradicated.

Her hooves, which had become overgrown through lack of farrier attention, were gently treated – though for the following six months she required specialist shoes to support her pedal bone, which had rotated due to the untreated overgrowth.

Josie Blaber, Strete Farm Supervisor, says: “Ellie is a farm favourite here at Strete because her big personality fits her big size!

“She is always first at the gate and loves a fuss. It is very rewarding to see how far Ellie has come in our care. She has transformed from a skinny donkey who was uncomfortable on her feet into a very confident and trusting animal.

“Unfortunately, Ellie still requires additional feeds to maintain her weight and continual pain relief to keep her comfortable, but she’s doing really well.

“She is settled and happy with her group of friends and loves to go out and roll in the field or stay in her warm bed when its chilly.

“Ellie is a big character in her barn, physically and behaviourally and is an unmissable presence on the farm.

“We are so thankful to our supporters, who have given Ellie the opportunity to lead a new, fuller life.”