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Imagine being left in a dark and dirty barn for six months with no access to the outside world - this had been the life for Laurel and Hardy, two donkeys, and a pony called Tim. Then one day a blue lorry turned up and took them to a place of sanctuary for life.
On Friday 24 July 2009, our welfare officers discovered Laurel, Hardy and Tim, in a stable block following an anonymous tip-off from a concerned member of the public.
"This has been the
worst case of neglect
we've had this year."
Molly Lloyd, one of our welfare officers, was shocked and distressed at the condition they were in. Not only did they have lice, their matted hair was coming away in large clumps. The conditions they were living in were atrocious.
Laurel, Hardy and Tim hadn't been visited by a farrier for 6 months and their feet were all painfully long.
Dejected and despondent
When our welfare officers found them in the barn, neither Laurel, Hardy nor Tim made a noise. All three of them appeared dejected and despondent as they had no quality of life.
Intensive care and permanent protection
"What a difference
caring people make.
I love gentle people.
No doubt, the real
Laurel & Hardy would
be honoured."
MalquiLans, 02/09/09
With the help of local police we were able to locate the owner but despite Laurel, Hardy and Tim being given food and water, none of them were given access to outdoors. Their bedding was soaked in urine and faeces and the food they were being given was not sufficient.
Later that day, Laurel, Hardy and Tim were signed over to us and taken to our nearest holding base to receive intensive care and permanent protection.
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Long road to recovery
This has been the worst case of neglect we've had this year. The donkeys were dangerously underweight and Laurel and Hardy's feet were in such a bad way that they could barely walk. When they arrived at our holding base, they went straight for the food - they were ravenously hungry. After settling in Laurel, Hardy and Tim were all given a full veterinary check to assess their health fully and a farrier has since started to rectify their overgrown feet.
Come and meet Laurel, Hardy and Tim
From Monday 1st February 2010 Laurel, Hardy and Tim have moved into their new paddock here at the Sanctuary after their journey down from our holding base in Derbyshire.
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