The Donkey Sanctuary facts for kids
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| Founded | 1969 |
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| Founder | Elisabeth Svendsen |
| Focus | Animal Welfare |
| Location | |
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Area served
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United Kingdom Europe Worldwide |
| Method | Veterinary Care, animal sanctuaries, popular education |
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Key people
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Robert Crawford, Professor Jim Duncan Stuart W. J. Reid, John Sewell-Rutter Bill Tetlow, Cathy Thompson Rosalind de Wesselow |
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Revenue
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£37m (2017) |
| Website | thedonkeysanctuary.org.uk |
The Donkey Sanctuary is a special charity in England. It helps donkeys around the world. This group started in 1969. It is based near Sidmouth in Devon, England. The Donkey Sanctuary is one of the biggest charities that helps animals like donkeys, horses, and mules. They work to make sure donkeys are safe and well-cared for.
Contents
How the Donkey Sanctuary Started
The Donkey Sanctuary was started in 1969 by a kind lady named Elisabeth Svendsen. It officially became a charity in 1973.
A Special Visit to the Market
Elisabeth decided to start the sanctuary after visiting a market in Exeter. She saw seven small donkeys squeezed into a tiny pen. One donkey looked very sick. She tried to buy it, but she couldn't. This made her realize she wanted to help donkeys in need. Instead of raising donkeys, she decided to save them.
More Donkeys Need Help
By 1973, Elisabeth was caring for 38 donkeys. In 1974, she got a phone call. A lawyer told her that a lady named Miss Violet Philpin had passed away. Miss Philpin had also run a donkey sanctuary. She left 204 donkeys to Elisabeth's care. Many people in Britain knew Violet Philpin's name because she often asked for help to care for donkeys.
Joining Forces to Help More Donkeys
The two charities were allowed to join together. The Donkey Sanctuary then bought Slade House Farm near Sidmouth. Since then, over 14,500 donkeys have been helped by the sanctuary in the UK and Ireland. The charity now works in the UK, Ireland, and other parts of Europe. They also help donkeys in Africa and Asia. In 1980, Elisabeth Svendsen received an award for her great work helping animals.
Helping Donkeys Find Homes
Around 2010, it became harder to find new homes for donkeys. This was because of a tough time for the economy. The charity asked people to volunteer to give donkeys foster homes. This means people would care for the donkeys for a while.
Who Runs the Sanctuary?
Seven people called trustees manage The Donkey Sanctuary. They are in charge of the charity, its money, and all its activities. In 2011, Elisabeth Svendsen, the founder, passed away at 81 years old.
Caring for Donkeys Around the World
The Donkey Sanctuary gives a forever home to over 4,000 donkeys. They have special places and foster homes in nine European countries. These include the United Kingdom, Ireland, Cyprus, France, Greece, Italy, Portugal, Romania, and Spain.
Why Donkeys Come to the Sanctuary
Many donkeys come to the charity because they are not wanted or have not been cared for properly. Other donkeys are given to the sanctuary because they are sick, need friends, or their owners can no longer care for them.
Helping Donkey Owners in the UK
More than 40 welfare officers help donkey owners across the UK. They give advice and support. They also check on reports of donkeys being treated badly. They visit markets and fairs where donkeys are sold. They also check on working donkeys to make sure they are healthy. The charity even holds a yearly competition to find the best beach donkeys. In 2009, the town of Filey won this award.
Global Donkey Care Projects
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The sanctuary runs big projects in Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Kenya, and Mexico. In these countries, they offer free mobile vet clinics. They also teach donkey owners, children, and veterinary surgeons about donkey care. By paying local teams of vets and teachers, the charity helps over 300,000 working donkeys each year.
What Happens at Mobile Clinics?
When donkeys visit a mobile clinic, they get a full health check. Their teeth and hooves are cared for, and any wounds are treated. Owners also get free advice and help. These mobile clinics have all the tools and medicines needed to treat most donkeys right there.
Common Donkey Problems
Donkeys often come to the clinics because they are tired or not eating enough. They might have problems with their teeth or feet. Some donkeys have worms or lice. They might also have open wounds from bad harnesses or from being hit. Injuries from car accidents are also happening more often. In some places, young donkeys can get hurt by groups of dogs or hyenas. The Donkey Sanctuary helps donkeys in faraway areas of Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Kenya, and Mexico.
International Donkey Week
Every year, The Donkey Sanctuary hosts a special event called International Donkey Week. Many local hotels and guesthouses join in. They give a donation to the sanctuary. People come from all over to take part in a week of fun activities.
Learning About Donkeys
The charity teaches vets, vet students, and animal health helpers in different countries. This helps them give better care to donkeys.
Books and Education Programs
Their book, The Professional Handbook of the Donkey, is sent to vets worldwide. Teams working overseas have also created a program to teach children about donkey welfare. This program includes puppet shows, talks, cartoon sheets, and storybooks. It helps children learn about the basic care and needs of donkeys.
Elisabeth Svendsen Trust for Children and Donkeys
In 1989, the Elisabeth Svendsen Trust for Children and Donkeys was created. This trust helps children with special needs live a fuller life. They do this by letting children spend time with donkeys. The trust offers free "Donkey Assisted life skills" sessions. Over 150 children come each week. The trust works from the main sanctuary in Sidmouth and other centers across the UK.
Visiting Slade House Farm
The main home of the Donkey Sanctuary in Devon is open to everyone. You can visit 365 days a year, from 9:00 AM until dark. Entry and parking are free. The charity believes that over 200,000 people visited the farm in 2009.
Donkeys of all ages live at the farm. Many of them are older donkeys. They stay there so they can be close to the special veterinary hospital.
In 2009, a film called The Donkey Sanctuary, 40 years on... was made. Elisabeth Svendsen herself told the story in the film.
See also
- The Donkey Sanctuary of Canada
