You may remember Brian from the recent story and video clip Maible gives birth. Brian was born in our Isolation Unit on 14th July and he is now starting to develop into a real little character being very independent and inquisitive.

It seems that although the summer is upon us, our staff seem reluctant to forget their winter feel good food, chocolate! In fact they’ve just taken delivery of a white chocolate coloured donkey named Choccy.

A new donkey with the rather unusual name Pavarotti was brought into our care recently, and although he wasn’t named after the late great singing legend, it seems that our Pavarotti has a shared interest – singing. Pavarotti the donkey was caught here on camera airing his lungs with a massive braying session shortly after being brought to the Sanctuary in June 2009.

It's 7.00 am and there's a chorus of brays as I arrive at the Isolation Unit to help 'muck out'. The braying has nothing to do with me turning up, but were the voices of donkeys waiting eagerly for their morning feed!

Normally on a Saturday morning, it's a well-earned lie-in, but not today. With boots on, I'm on my way out of the house at 6.30 am to pick up broom, shovel and wheelbarrow to give a helping hand in the Isolation Unit.