When Emily Collins, Donkey Welfare Adviser, investigated a welfare concern, she discovered a group of donkeys desperately in need of our help. It was clear they all needed new homes. Two homes were quickly identified for donkeys Lily and OB. Our friends at Hungry Horse Outside stepped up to offer a rescue space for Seanie and two colts called Teddy and Eric and they were moved to a local vet hospital to receive further care. While receiving treatment Emily and fellow Donkey Welfare Adviser, Clare Crowther, identified suitable homes for the three donkeys.
Margaret in Wexford contacted us as she wanted to offer a home to a donkey in need. She had owned a donkey and horses before and currently has some other animals.
Clare went to meet Margaret who explained that she felt she had enough experience to take on ownership of a donkey via our supported rehoming work and that the donkey would be staying with her for life.
Margaret has four acres of grazing land around her cottage and a shelter alongside her house. It was decided that Clare would look for a single donkey for her initially with the goal being to get a second donkey as soon as possible as donkeys are social animals that require the companionship of another donkey.
Emily Collins, DWA, had mentioned a case in her area involving an older, neglected, single, donkey stallion called Seanie, now castrated under our care and looking for a new home. Clare thought that Seanie would be perfect for Margaret. She showed Margaret photographs of Seanie as he was found by Emily, tethered by a strap around his neck and underweight with long hooves. Margaret just knew she had to give Seanie a home.
Emily had organised for Seanie to have his hooves trimmed and he had been microchipped. The donkey had also been castrated and was ready to move to a new home.
Seanie was transported to Margaret the following week and given time to settle in. Clare later visited with a local equine dental technician and Seanie’s teeth were rasped and he was wormed. Clare said: “Seanie seems really settled and it’s so lovely to see him able to make choices about where to graze, rest or shelter and be free of the restrictions of his previous life on a tether. It’s amazing that he still interacts positively with people but he really does. He is gentle and friendly”.
Margaret says “He is such an easy, affectionate donkey. He always comes over to say hello. He loves his shelter, was perfect for my farrier to check his hooves and gets on well with the other animals, although he is definitely the boss. I love having him.”
Note: We normally seek homes for donkeys in pairs unless they are going to be a companion to another donkey. However, in this case, Seanie was not bonded with any of the other donkeys that he lived with and needed some time to allow his hormone levels to decrease after castration to help reduce his urge to fight with other donkeys. Margaret has experience keeping a donkey and horses previously and we aim to support the rehoming of another donkey to be a companion to Seanie as soon as we can.
