I never meant to care for more than a few donkeys and, in fact, when in 1969 I bought my first donkey, Naughty Face, I had little idea of where my acquisition would lead me!
By 1973 I had 38 donkeys in my care when, in June of that year, I received a phone call from a solicitor who was the Executor of the Estate of the late Miss Violet Philpin, a lady who had cared for donkeys at her Helping Hand Animal Welfare League Donkey Sanctuary near Reading in Berkshire. The solicitor explained that I had been left a legacy - of 204 donkeys.
About our campaign
Sanctuary for life
Sanctuary from suffering
How we help donkeys
Spreading our expertise
Our devotion to donkeys
Ways to get involved
What's on in your area
This year, we are celebrating 40 years of commitment to the care and welfare of donkeys throughout the world by launching our Sanctuary from Suffering campaign which highlights the work we are providing here in the UK, Ireland and Europe as well as our work in developing countries.
I would like to thank each and everyone one of you who has helped the Sanctuary reach this milestone.
Without you, we would not have been able to achieve what we have done so far.
this photo brought tears to our eyes as the look of devotion for each other shines through!! the donkeys are gorgeous
thank goodness people exist like you all at the Donkey Sanctuary, the donkeys are so happy, safe and well cared for, as they deserve to be
we are ardent supporters of the Sanctuary and tell everyone we know to visit.