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Who we are

Burrito

El Refugio del Burrito is a registered Spanish Non-Profit Association working to improve conditions for donkeys and mules in Spain.

Our Fuente de Piedra Farm is open to the public every day of the year, entrance is free of charge.

During April to September, we are open between 11.00 am and 7.00 pm whilst in October to March, we are open between 11.00 am and 6.00 pm.

Mission statement

Protecting donkeys and mules and promoting their welfare in Spain and enabling those donkeys fit and able to do so to provide riding therapy to children with special needs.

Our aims and objectives

The objectives of El Refugio del Burrito are the provision of care, protection and permanent security anywhere in Spain for donkeys and mules which are in need of attention by reason of sickness, maltreatment, poor circumstances, ill-usage or other like causes and the prevention of cruelty and suffering among donkeys and mules.

In order to realize these objectives the Directors have identified the following key operational activities within the Charity:

  • Provision of Donkey Care; to provide to every resident donkey within the refuge, expert and individual care through the provision of highly qualified motivated staff and optimum facilities to cater for the needs of our donkey population.
  • Donkey Welfare Support; to provide a network of Welfare Officers across the country who follow up complaints by the public of ill treatment to donkeys and who monitor and develop foster home placements.
  • Training, Education and Awareness; to promote donkey welfare practises by courses, publication or whatever means appropriate.
  • Donkey Assisted Riding Therapy Programme; for Children with Special Needs using those donkeys fit and able and who have received special training for this purpose.
  • Fundraising; to actively raise money from many sources in order to carry out our free services.

We have the following facilities and main projects:

  • Our headquarters and refuge in Fuente de Piedra capable of caring for 90 donkeys and open free to the public every day of the year.
  • Our 2nd refuge in Bodonal de la Sierra capable of caring for up to 250 donkeys.
  • Riding Therapy Centre based at Cordoba Zoo currently working with 150 children with special needs per week.
  • Mobile Riding Therapy Team based in Fuente de Piedra currently working with 35 children with special needs per week.

El Refugio del Burrito is a subsidiary of The Donkey Sanctuary which is a UK based charity working worldwide to improve conditions for donkeys and mules.