Blogs

So how do you know what a donkey is thinking? Well, first you ask a lot of questions, and then you let the donkey tell you for themselves. Working with behaviour requires you to have a passion for uncovering the truth, it’s not that people lie or deliberately mislead me, it is simply that we all have our own perceptions of the same situation.

A week before Christmas last year, Milo one of our mules at Town Barton went off to his new home. We packed him a big bag of straw and hay with festive tinsel wrapped round it so he could give it to his foster owners on his arrival along with a Christmas card which stated Milo’s likes and dislikes and how he likes his bed made... we do fuss but it’s only because we care!

Springfield Academy in Calne, Wiltshire have become proud foster owners to donkeys Paddy and Tommy, who are the newest members to Greenfield Campus farm. I was able to follow the fostering story, travelling to the campus with one of our drivers, Mark Mingo, to see both donkeys settling in to their new residence.

Roger has been at the Sanctuary since 2006 when his owners kindly retired him from beach work. He is such a character and likes to be involved with everything we do.

"We have a problem right now with one of the donkeys from Fuente de Piedra." As the Sanctuary's behaviourist this is always the worst start to an email I can get. There is a confused donkey perhaps in pain or scared that is in need of urgent help, it is in a different country and our European staff who care for this animal need help and support as soon as possible.

There is a feeling of spring in the air in the events team last week. We have an action packed programme of events for the year ahead and we are really excited about it! We had our first experience day of the year and it was a glorious day. The sun was shining, the birds were singing and the donkeys' visitors and staff were all happy.