Adoption update

Toto has come a long way since he was first rescued in France when he was just a one year old stubborn donkey. He has become such a gorgeous gentledonk! Not only is he a “looker” who attracts a lot of attention from visitors, but he’s also a clever and dedicated donkey. He trained as a Donkey Assisted Riding Therapy Donkey, and he is very good, especially with older children, as he is very tall and sturdy. He is now enjoying a break in these activities, but can’t wait to be back helping Children with Special Needs!

Estrella is not just good with children... we can say she is the best! It doesn’t cease to amaze us how she doesn’t want much interaction with adults, and yet, she can be with children for hours on end! If any staff try to stroke her, she will instantly turn around and go and yet, if it its a child that does, she becomes her new best friend... No wonder she is such an important part of our Donkey Assisted Riding Therapy Programme for Children with Special Needs!

Our Romero, apart from being a Casanova, is a donkey with an epic appetite… we suppose that’s why he has developed an incredible sense of smell when it comes to food. Thanks to this, no Saturday goes unnoticed for him. Saturday is when Adrián, our grocer, brings in the carrot delivery Romero loves so much. Although his paddock is quite a way away from where the carrots are unloaded... He’s always got some good braying ready for the grocery man!

León latest stunt is learning some magic tricks to impress the ladies...but he’s not impressing our grooms! He’s a master of vanishing tricks. Any accomplished magician would like to take lessons from this Houdini of a donkey! He can make tools and wellies go missing without a trace in no time flat! His biggest trick so far has been the great vanishing of a wheelbarrow! And the best thing of it all... if you look for him in the scene of crime, León is never there...

At long last, after so many years, the tiny, but hard steps our shy Erica has had to go through are showing their results. It’s not unusual to see her approaching the fence elegantly, to have her picture taken or be stroked by some visitors. This hasn’t affected at all her friendship with Belén. You can see them daily enjoying a stroll or some food together in main field... especially now springtime is around the bend.

We regret to inform that our world-famous baritone, has recently been involved in an extra feed smuggling case. Last December, in the height of the festive season, authorities at El Refugio del burrito noticed some suspicious activities in paddock 10, the exclusive neighbourhood the singer lives in. Buckets had gone missing or they were being misplaced, as well as some donkeys putting on weight when they shouldn’t. The investigations lead to unveil the fraudulent activities of this mischievous character.

Toto hasn’t really got a chance to miss his native France with all this rain, cold weather and green hills. He really loves the rain, which enhances his bohemian character. He likes walking along the paddock, alongside his good friend snooty, as if musing poems yet to be written or some beautiful painting going through his mind… He certainly has that bohemian air around him, which makes him irresistible to our most sensitive visitors…

For once, our mischivieous sardinian joker is up to some good; well, sort of. Being a neighbours of Romero, he has heard about his impersonating Santa plan, and he doesn’t want to be left behind in the scheme. He is now trying to convince his paddock friends to dress up as reindeers and carry the sleigh. This, he says, would make Romero overjoyed and give the babies a Christmas night they’ll never forget. So far a few rakes have gone missing and also the red ball from the riding therapy equipment… We wonder who’s going to be playing Rudolph…

Our very own Casanova never stops thinking about ideas to impress the ladies, the latest one being in its special way, quite a good one. He’s heard over the grapevine that a Santa outfit is being made for Romerito, El Refugio’s Mascot for the upcoming festive season. He is cunningly thinking about “borrowing” it for a night and surprise the babies – Alicia, Ruby and Ryan- with carrot and apple presents… our only worry is that he pretends to arrive by sleigh… reindeer included! But this, he reckons, would steal the females’ hearts all around the sanctuary.

After her big success on Andalucian television, Estrella has been offered several parts around the area to star on several Christmas pageants, but the latest one, has made her lose her temper. Not only they wanted her to star in it… but to be the Christmas Star itself! This, she says, is outrageous. Apparently they didn’t want to cast her as the donkey because her pregnant-like belly would steal the show from Mary. Yet, she adds, they want to hang me by a thread and dress in a silly sparkly costume… Unbelievable!