New beginning for Bambi and friends

Six-month-old Bambi sparked fears for her survival when our Donkey Welfare Advisers Kia Thomas, Sally Bamforth and Adele Crompton visited her site in the West Midlands last year.

The starving foal, who was living with three underweight geldings called Snowman, Barney and Ben, was trying to suckle from one of her companions and chewing on dock leaves to feed herself.

The four donkeys lived on boggy scrubland close to a main road. There was no suitable grazing – the donkeys walked in thick mud and a dense carpet of dock leaves.

The crude fencing put up around the donkeys’ paddock was also in disrepair and unsafe. Barbed wire had come loose and some of the wooden sections had broken, posing an escape risk.

Kia says: “This was a desperate situation, especially for Bambi, who was severely underweight and searching for a source of food and milk.

“We were upset to see her trying to suckle from Snowman in search of some sustenance and chewing the dock leaves, which are unpalatable and don’t provide the correct nutrition for donkeys.

“We were concerned that we needed to take immediate action that day or Bambi was unlikely to survive much longer. There was no mare in the field, and we later learned that Bambi’s mother had passed away.

“Bambi was very quiet and dull, and although her coat was quite thick and fluffy to the eye, it hid how skinny she really was. When we felt Bambi’s body, her spine and hip bones were very prominent.”

The other three donkeys were also in need of veterinary attention. Snowman was extremely underweight; his spine and hip bones were easily seen through his coat.

He also had scabs on his muzzle and his demeanour was quiet and withdrawn.

“Snowman was a sorry sight,” Kia adds. “We occasionally receive reports of animals being underweight, but it still took me by surprise seeing just how thin he was.

“Nothing prepares you for coming face to face with an animal in such a poor state and seeing how desperate the situation is for them.

“It was fortunate I was there with my experienced colleagues so we could deal with this together.”

Taken to safety

Once they had assessed the situation, Kia, Sally and Adele enlisted the help of the RSPCA to remove the donkeys from the site in a timely manner and transport them to a holding base.

The donkeys were taken into possession by West Midlands Constabulary under Section 18 of the Animal Welfare Act. They have since been legally placed into the permanent care of The Donkey Sanctuary.

The donkeys’ owners, who admitted neglecting the donkeys, were sentenced at Birmingham Magistrates’ Court in September 2024 in a case brought by the RSPCA. They were both disqualified from owning donkeys and their hybrids for five years.

They were also given a community order of 24 months with a condition of 50 hours unpaid work each, and ordered to pay costs of £600.

Kia says: “In the days and weeks after their rescue, we followed the donkeys’ journey closely. We were very relieved that Bambi and her companions responded so well to the care they received.

“It is my hope that these donkeys go on to lead happy, healthy lives and receive the care and attention they deserve.”

Thriving in our care

More than a year has passed since Bambi, Snowman, Ben and Barney arrived at the holding base, and all four donkeys continue to thrive thanks to the specialised care they receive.

A spokesperson for the holding base says: “Bambi is a totally different donkey to how we first welcomed her.

“When she arrived, she had mud fever on her fetlocks and was riddled with lice and needed her coat entirely clipped.

“Bambi has since bonded with three other young donkeys and one of their mums. She is very happy having similarly aged donkeys to play with.

“She is a brilliant little donkey who is adventurous and loves exploring the paddocks.

“Snowman is also looking a lot better and has maintained his weight this year. He’s on pain relief for hock arthritis, which helps him move easier.

“He is living with Ben and Barney and they all share a lovely bond. Snowman and Barney will groom each other’s necks, while Ben is a little more independent.”

Because of his health issue, Snowman will have a forever home at one of our sanctuary sites alongside donkeys with similar needs.

We will continue to monitor Bambi, Ben and Barney’s progress and hope they will become eligible for rehoming in the future.