Ashley is 6 weeks old now and continues to thrive, turning into a very bright, handsome little donkey. His diet has changed again to meet his needs as we have discovered he is lactose intolerant, so he now enjoys several drinks of goats milk a day and some tasty nuts at night. Ashley and his friends, Zena and Mr Khan, are also starting to pick at the adults food now when they have their feeds, but fortunately the mothers are very tolerant and do not object too much! Out in the fields in between lots of play time Ashley has started to nibble at the grass like his friends, but still loves to snuggle up on his thick bed of straw in the warm stable at night.
As Ashley grows it is important he does not become too attached to humans and remembers he is a donkey, so although he still likes people, our staff are gradually distancing themselves and Ashley is responding well to this and becoming more donkey orientated now. He still gets to enjoy the odd cuddle though and that is one thing that is never in short supply here at the sanctuary!
To be able to watch ashley and friends grow up in such a lovely environment, and to see the dedication of all the staff. It can't be easy to have to get out of your warm beds in the middle of the night to go and feed them. Yet you do it as if it is a privelege to yourselves. Thank goodness there are people like you. I take my hat off to you. I cannot sit at my computer without first checking with the donkeys.
I hope you all have a smashing christmas, and hope santa brings sacks of carrots and other goodies for our donkeys
So glad to hear that Ashley is doing fine, had been worried about him. He certainly is a gorgeous little man and it is good he is learning how to be a donkey now. Glad to hear he is still getting a cuddle though.
What a relief it was (and not just for me I reckon) to learn that Ashley is thriving now the cause of his being unwell has been identified. Of course, he should not be made to think he is a human but we can turn ourselves into donkeys so that the distance remains an acceptable one, can't we? ;-)