Europe update

We have now taken into care over 600 donkeys in Europe; many of these have come from terrible circumstances. One of the major problems that we have had to combat is the immense distances involved in transporting donkeys from where they are rescued to one of our established bases. To combat this, we have come up with a new way of expanding our operation, which reduces this problem. Where we have major problems, such as Romania and Greece, we will licence the existing holding bases or find new or existing holding bases, so that the donkeys can stay there on a permanent basis rather than having to be shipped thousands of miles back to our home base. Each holding base will have to be rigorously checked to make sure that it complies with The Donkey Sanctuary standards and we will be checking on the donkeys at least six times every year to make sure that the best standards are maintained. In this way, we will be able to expand our operation throughout Europe much more effectively.

Well, if 2007 was a busy year 2008 is set to be even busier; since 2003 we have set up refuges in Spain, Italy and Cyprus and established our presence through small holding centres and by working with existing charities in, Romania, France, Albania, Greece, and Portugal. With the main refuges now set up and taking in donkeys we are in a good position to help the thousands of donkeys and mules who so desperately need our help in Europe. Donkeys like these who were abandoned and poisoned by a farmer because they were eating his crops. Luckily for them we found them in time and managed to administer an antidote, they are now at our sanctuary in Italy after our specially designed lorries transported them to safety.