Sidmouth donkeys provide wellbeing for firefighters

The group of 25 firefighters and their families were welcomed into our Donkey Assisted Activities (DAA) centre at our Sidmouth sanctuary for a day of interaction and wellbeing alongside the donkeys.

This was the third visit for members of the Fire Fighters Charity, which supports serving and former fire and rescue service personnel and their families, alongside eligible individuals across a diverse community of around 300,000 people.

After an introduction to the herd of 22 donkeys, the group spent some time observing and grooming the donkeys. They then had the opportunity to make some enrichment treats for the donkeys to enjoy.

The treats included snuffle boxes of straw, carrots, parsnips and apples, as well as vegetable strands made of root vegetables attached to lengths of string, which the donkeys would need to seek out and reach up to.

Enrichment is very important to donkeys and provides them with opportunities to interact with their environment. It also allows them to express natural behaviours, make choices and be more mentally active.

A group of families creating food enrichment on a table for donkeys

A group of donkeys eating food enrichment tied to a metal fence

Two grey donkeys eating hay enrichment on the floor of an outside padock

Led by staff from the DAA centre, the ground-based activities, which are provided free of charge to individuals and groups, support people’s self-development, helping them to better deal with challenging and stressful situations in everyday life, while also promoting positive attitudes towards donkeys.

As well as giving people the opportunity to learn more about donkeys, the day aimed to provide some wellbeing time for the whole group and give the firefighters a brief respite from their busy frontline duties.

Megan Marles, Equine Assistant at The Donkey Sanctuary, said: “We ensured all our visitors had plenty of time meeting our donkeys and they enjoyed interacting and learning all about them. The families took part in lots of different activities and found out how the donkeys communicate with us and one another. It was a really uplifting day for us all”

Jason Stone, Welfare Caseworker from The Fire Fighters Charity, said: “All the staff are very friendly and knowledgeable. They welcomed us with open arms and interacted with the group so well. They are amazing with the donkeys, especially when teaching the young children how to behave around them.”

He added: “Our group found spending time stroking the donkeys very calming and therapeutic.”