The Mayor of Weymouth and Portland will present two top regional awards to the owner of a group of working donkeys on Weymouth beach at 12pm on Tuesday 7th September 2010.

Maggie Aldridge’s donkeys Stumpy, Dainty, Daisy, Beejay, Peejay, Sparky, Jasmine and Sooty have been given the title of Best Group Working Donkeys (South) whilst Sooty has been given the title of Best Single Working Donkey (South) by the Sidmouth-based Donkey Sanctuary.

The donkey-welfare charity is running a new ‘Working Donkey Awards’ scheme this year, helping to recognise owners achieving the highest standards of welfare for their donkeys in individual regions of the UK.

The awards given to donkeys working in recreational roles encompass certain criteria about the donkeys’ suitability for the job, temperament, general health, tack and turnout and all year-round living conditions.

Mark Kerr, the Sanctuary’s regional welfare officer says: “Maggie’s donkeys provide rides on the beach and are very well cared for and all have a lovely, friendly nature. We feel Maggie’s donkeys are the South’s top donkeys because she has very high standards in the care she provides and she’s ticked every box for us.”

Maggie will receive an annual shield as well as an individual shields to keep, certificates and a bucket of carrots for her donkeys.

Whilst the majority of working donkeys in the UK receive high standards of care, the same cannot be said for donkey taxis working in tourist hotspots in Mainland Europe or the millions being overworked in developing countries where they provide essential transport to millions of people living below the poverty line. Find out how The Donkey Sanctuary provides sanctuary from suffering to donkeys both at home and abroad by visiting the website.

Latest press releases