A harrowing discovery
This is the story of our largest and most harrowing UK rescue, an operation unlike any we have faced before. But a rescue that has delivered hope to the lives of dozens of neglected donkeys.
More than 70 donkeys were discovered in horrific, filthy conditions in Carmarthenshire, their welfare in serious jeopardy. Among them were 20 heavily pregnant mares, their helpless foals set to be born into a life of despair. The scale and severity of their pain and suffering was devastating to witness.
Left to stand in inches of faeces, mud and wet straw, many of the donkeys’ hooves were hugely overgrown and infected. Their coats, which should have been shiny and healthy, were matted and caked in mud and faeces. Their teeth were in such poor condition that many of them would later need extensive dental treatment.
Some of the donkeys were visibly underweight, a clear sign that they had not been given adequate care and nourishment. It was a truly heartbreaking sight.
Donate today
Your kind donation will help us change the stories of more donkeys in need.
A large and complex rescue
This harrowing rescue was the most complex and wide-ranging operation our charity has ever experienced. The sheer number of donkeys that we took into our care was unparalleled and their prolonged neglect meant that many had multiple health issues that could be life threatening if left untreated.
Safely in our care, we set about delivering a large-scale rehabilitation programme for the many desperately unwell donkeys, each with their own complex needs. It was a daunting task and the demand on our New Arrivals Unit was stretched to capacity. Our teams rallied together and were on hand day and night, lovingly and expertly treating each of the donkeys’ specific health conditions.
The donkeys’ traumatic pasts meant that each of them had emotional scars and deep-rooted behavioural challenges to overcome. But with plenty of patience, love and expert care we were able to turn this tale of sorrow into one of hope, resilience and recovery.
See the difference your donation can make
A mammoth donkey called Ellie has made a fantastic recovery after she was discovered in a pitiful state back in 2021.
Pudding, a donkey rescued as part of a historic operation in Carmarthenshire in 2021, has formed an unbreakable bond with another donkey called Zoe.
A rescued donkey who needed to have several teeth removed is gradually overcoming her fear of having her mouth touched thanks to the work of our Behaviour experts.
Frightened and mistrustful, Annie and Delilah’s lives would change forever when they were rescued from squalid conditions in Carmarthenshire.
More than 80 donkeys now have a home for life after being officially signed into the care of The Donkey Sanctuary, marking the legal conclusion of our largest ever UK rescue.
Dozens of donkeys discovered in poor conditions at a farm in Wales are now safe in our care following a huge rescue operation in February last year.
Changing their story
It’s been more than three years since the Carmarthenshire rescue. For many of the donkeys involved, they are living happy and fulfilled lives, while others are still walking that long road to recovery.
But thanks to your incredible support, they have all begun a new chapter, a far cry from their horrific past. The lives of these donkeys and their foals will always be filled with safety and kindness, not just at Christmas, but all year round.
We changed the stories for a staggering number of donkeys, but there are even more that need your help.
By donating this Christmas, you are giving the gift of a brighter future for so many donkeys. Your support can be the difference in transforming a life.
Together, we can bring new chapters of hope and happiness to more donkeys this Christmas.
Make a donation
£10 a month could help cover the costs of farrier visits for rescued donkeys needing urgent treatment.
£6 a month could go towards providing enrichment activities keeping rescued donkeys happy and mentally stimulated.
£4 a month could help pay for nutritious feed, ensuring rescued donkeys never have to go hungry again.
£50 could help pay for an expert donkey behaviourist to rebuild these donkeys’ trust for a brighter future.
£20 could go towards nutritious feed, ensuring that rescued donkeys never go hungry again.
£10 could pay for regular farrier treatment, helping to keep these donkeys’ hooves healthy and comfortable.
