Imagine being shut in a stable inside a barn for at least 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, our welfare officers discovered Laurel, Hardy and Tim, in a stable block following an anonymous tip-off from a concerned member of the public.
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 had not been visited by a farrier and sadly their feet are all painfully long.
Without adequate access to food and water, all three are extremely thin and slowly starving to death.
Rejected and despondent
Laurel, Hardy and Tim made no noise in the barn when our welfare officers visited them. Sadly, all three of them appeared dejected and despondent as they had no quality of life.
Intensive care and permanent protection
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 enough.
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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It's going to take a great deal of effort
This is the worst case of neglect we've had this year. The donkeys are dangerously underweight and Laurel and Hardy's feet are in such a bad way that they can barely walk. When they arrived at our holding base, they went straight for the food - they were ravenously hungry. We will soon give them a full veterinary check to assess their health fully and get a farrier in to rectify their overgrown feet, which haven't been touched for over six months. It's going to take a great deal of effort to bring them back to full health but that's what we are here for.
Slow road to recovery
Over the coming weeks, you will be able to keep up to date with Laurel, Hardy and Tim's progress by reading Dawn Vincent's blog.
i really think that the person who owned them 2 donkeys and the pony should be put through the same treatment they gave them. i would do the job for free
How sad it was to see these poor donkeys in this condition, why oh why do people do this to these wonderful animals.At least now they will recieve the love and care they deserve.
How lucky these 3 Beautiful Donkey's are to have been found in the nick of time? At last they will get Tender Loving Care and much needed attention they deserve. Whatever type of person could do this to an animal?
It just breaks your heart to read about the suffering that these two animals had to go through. Thank god they are now in your professional care.
Is there any possibility of starting up a fund to help the RSPCA prosecute the owners in cases like this ?
I am so horrified at this report. I have donated as much as is possible at the moment and hope to give more when possible. The suffering of these animals is actually hard to take in.
I was so upeset to read about Laurey, Hardy and Tim. How can people be so cruel to animals that are so trusting. I hope with the tender loving care they will receive their lives will be much improved.
Thank God they were found in time ...
It just never ceases to amaze me that in this day and age, with all the publicity that there has been about the Amersham case, that this can still happen ... It goes to show that all of us must maintain a constant vigil in the fields and buildings around us as much as possible.
Bless you.
I cannot believe that we continuously hear stories about people mistreating animals in this way. I donate regularly to lots of different animal welfare charities but feel that the government should impose stricter penalties for offenders. In this day and age when we are all striving to conserve our planet by caring for the environment the care of animals as part of the ecosystem is essential.
I am in awe of the work that happens at the Donkey Sanctuary and constantly tell all and sundry about it. Keep up the good work and I look forward to seeing more pictures of Laurel, Hardy and Tim as they recover.