Our statement
Out of respect for all parties involved, we do not comment on individual cases; however, we want to reassure our supporters that our Rehoming Scheme is designed with the welfare of our donkeys as the utmost priority.
Currently, loving Guardian families care for over 1,500 of our donkeys on our Rehoming Scheme. Thanks to our Guardians’ commitment, we can continue to offer specialist sanctuary care to those donkeys who need it most.
During their time on the Rehoming Scheme, all our donkeys remain under the ownership of The Donkey Sanctuary. While we hope these donkeys will live out their lives with their Guardians, we understand that circumstances change and that donkeys may need to return to our care for various reasons.
Our donkeys are usually rehomed in pairs or small groups due to donkeys’ propensity to form close bonds of friendship. As part of our rehoming agreement, we ask that our donkeys are housed and managed separately from all other animals, including other equines.
Where donkey(s) are rehomed to join existing privately owned donkeys, we ask that a companion agreement is signed.
This agreement is intended to safeguard donkey welfare should the donkeys need to be returned to our care for any reason in the future.
Separation from bonded companions can cause donkeys stress, which can lead to a serious condition called hyperlipaemia.
The companion agreement does not serve to relinquish ownership of privately owned donkeys to The Donkey Sanctuary at the time of signing.
It acts as a commitment that if, after assessment, there are strong bonds between donkeys, relinquishment would be agreeable to allow the donkeys to be moved together rather than to split bonded companions. This is to mitigate against the risk of hyperlipaemia and recognise the importance of friendship bonds.
If the donkeys were found not to be bonded following assessment, there would be no need for the companion agreement to be implemented.
If a Guardian wishes to acquire additional donkeys to be housed and managed with our rehomed donkeys, we welcome the opportunity to discuss this before any decision is made.
We may be able to rehome another of our donkeys or offer advice on the suitability of any new companions and, of course, can discuss the companion agreement.
Individual donkeys may have differing veterinary and management needs that need consideration when looking to introduce new companions. For example, the size, sex, age, and behaviour of any new donkey(s) may influence their compatibility.
In some circumstances, it may be best to manage groups of donkeys separately depending on their welfare needs. Where privately owned donkeys are managed separately from our rehomed donkeys, no companion agreement is required.
We understand that decisions regarding future care can be complex and can often be a challenging and upsetting time for our Guardians. We endeavour to work with our Guardians, discuss what options are available and make fully informed decisions based on what option best serves our donkeys’ short- and longer-term welfare.
We assess donkeys returning from the scheme so that we have a current picture of their health and behaviour. If other donkeys are remaining in the home, we carry out bonding assessments and ensure that the movements of our donkeys are only arranged once we are sure it is appropriate to do so.
Upon leaving a Guardian home, we may rehome donkeys directly into a new Guardian home; move them to one of our sanctuaries or, where appropriate, move them to a local holding base before considering them for rehoming again in the future. These decisions are made in collaboration with our veterinary and behaviour teams.
We have a dedicated team of Donkey Welfare Advisers based regionally throughout the country, supported by our office-based welfare team, who are also on hand to answer any queries or concerns that our Guardians may have.
We understand that, sadly, there will be times when expectations are not met.
We value each of our Guardian homes, respect their views, and welcome their feedback. In the unlikely event that we cannot resolve concerns or disputes, Guardians can follow our formal complaints process.
We do not charge rehoming fees as we value the time and investment our Guardians make to provide a good home for our donkeys.
More about our rehoming scheme
Find out what it takes to rehome a pair of donkeys or mules in the UK. Could you be a Donkey Guardian and become part of our Rehoming Scheme?
These Terms and Conditions provide details of the requirements that are considered necessary to ensure the well-being of the donkeys that are being cared for as part of The Donkey Sanctuary Rehoming Scheme and form part of the Guardian Agreement.
If you're considering giving our rescued friends a home, you will be joining an extraordinary group of supporters here in the UK: our Donkey Guardians.
