The world’s donkeys are in the spotlight this week as enthusiasts around the globe celebrate
Donkeys have throughout history been the beast of burden in many stories and journeys we read about, but this week has been one for recognising their role in people’s lives.
Run by the Donkey Sanctuary in Sidmouth, which was founded in 1969 by Dr Elizabeth Svendsen, the week is an event-filled donkey fest.
However, International Donkey Week is not confined to Devon’s landscape – Manchester’s branch of the sanctuary does its own great work throughout the year.
The Donkey Sanctuary Assisted Therapy Centre in Abbey Hey is one of six centres throughout the UK and Ireland which specialises in care for children through the use of donkeys.
Robina Melling, a riding instructor at the centre, said: “We have 20 donkeys at the moment – people all have their favourite donkeys, so at least all of our donkeys have always got a favourite visitor.
“We have three adoption donkeys that people can adopt themselves – 15-year-old Toby A,Cocoa who’s 19, and 15-year-old Hannah.”
APPEAL: Could you find room in your heart to adopt Hannah or Toby A?
The centre, which does not benefit from National Lottery or government funding, is completely reliant on donations from the general public.
The Donkey Sanctuary became a registered charity in 1973 and has since handled nearly 15,000 donkeys in centres in the country.
“One of our biggest funding schemes is obviously the adopt-a-donkey scheme so we always try and encourage people to adopt one of our donkeys,” said Robina.
“It’s £16 for a 12 month period and we also hold lots of events to help raise funds.”
Regarding the treatment of its special equine friends, the sanctuary will take in any unwanted or rescue donkeys.
They will typically spend eight weeks in isolation, during which they are checked for health problems and assessed as to what long-term care they will receive.
Robina said: “If it’s a young, fit and able donkey it’ll go out into a different farm where it will then go into basic training.
“It will be handled – such as have a head collar put on it and learn how to have it its feet picked out.
“They’ll then either go into foster care or into one of our riding centres.”
While the donkey has traditionally been seen as made to suffer, Robina believes attitudes towards this notion are changing.
“I think International Donkey Week helps to raise awareness. I don’t think it helps to get rid of it because it still exists to this day,” she said.
“Donkeys are still used as tourist taxis instead of cars to help people’s livelihoods.
“As to whether they’ll eradicate it I don’t think it will happen anytime soon – but we’re working on it!”
It is not all doom and gloom, however – Robina is looking forward to some fresh additions to the sanctuary family in the near future.
She said: “There are some new ones in the pipeline and they should be with us in the next four to six weeks.”
For more information about The Donkey Sanctuary in Manchester, visit http://www.thedonkeysanctuary.org.uk/
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