Rehoming donkeys
Find out more about rehoming donkeys
Since 2003, more than 600 donkeys have been given a second chance and are now living in adoptive homes across Spain. Adoptive homes are an incredible help for those donkeys and mules urgently needing to be relocated, providing them with the care and time they require.
Currently, due to the increasing number of external donkeys in need of relocation, we are prioritizing these adoptions over those of animals from our centers. Our role at this time is to connect individuals, rescue centers, town councils, or authorities that need to rehome donkeys and mules with people willing to adopt them.
If you are still interested in adopting donkeys, we would greatly appreciate it if you could complete this brief form (it will take no more than two minutes). This will allow us to share your contact information with individuals or organizations urgently needing to rehome donkeys or mules in your area.
As a prospective adopter, you must meet certain legal requirements, such as having an Equine Operation Code (which can be obtained at your local Agricultural Office – OCA) and providing suitable facilities, including a stable or shelter.
Before deciding to provide a home for donkeys, it is advisable to discuss it with your veterinarian and get in touch with a local farrier to ensure you can rely on their services (we can also assist by providing contact information for equine veterinarians and other specialists). You may also want to calculate the costs involved in caring for donkeys (feeding, farrier, veterinarians, dentist, etc.). We typically advise estimating between €800 and €1,000 annually, depending on the animal’s health.
Donkeys are very sociable and make fantastic pets! By giving two donkeys a loving home full of care and attention, we are confident that the reward will be enormous.
Frequently asked questions
Everything you ever needed to know!
Donkeys are fantastic! They just love individual care and attention and will reward you with affection by the bucket load! Mind you they do form strong bonds so we always send them out in pairs.
What do you need from me?
A minimum of 250sqm of grazing/land is required. The actual amount of land required will vary dependant on the type of terrain, soil, drainage and climate and so the Donkey Welfare Adviser will discuss this with you. A hard standing area - donkey's feet are really porous so they need to be able to get off the soggy ground when it's really wet. Strong stockproof fencing is also a must as donkeys are great escape artists! We also advise to get in touch with the local authorities to find out which licences are necessary in the area in order to build and which are the legal requirements to have equines. In Spain is mandatory to hold a permission given by the local authorities called "Código de Explotación Equina" to own equids.
I have a lonely donkey, should I get another one?
Yes! Donkeys are very social animals. We will do our best to provide a single donkey as a companion to your own but will need to chat through all the details with you first, so just call us.
I don't have a stable or shelter, is this a problem?
Donkeys don't have as waterproof coats as horses and will always need access to a shelter or stable, it also provides shade from the sun on long summer days. But don't worry if you haven't got one yet, our team can advise you.
What costs are involved?
We are a non profit organization , so our mission is to help donkeys and mules to have the best quality of life and we do not charge for our services. However, we always encourage, if possible, to contribute with the transport cost involved to move the animals from where they are to your property.
A general guide of costs involved in caring for your donkey is approximately €1,000 per year per donkey, so it pays to have pet insurance or a contingency fund to cover any unexpected vet bills
How much time should I commit?
Donkeys are very sociable and would love you to spend as much time as you can with them! We recommend visiting the donkeys to check they are OK and have food and water twice a day generally make a fuss of them! We also recommend that you check them for injuries, pick out feet, groom, muck out each day. You may even be the talk of the village by taking them out for walks!
But I don't know much about donkey care!
We always offer free training and information! Support and advice is always available from us too, we are here to help!
Can I choose which donkey I want?
Donkeys in our supported move programe are those that are outside our Sanctuary and need a home urgently. We can not control or select donkeys but we will always share all the available information about the animals with you and you will take the decision of rehomign them or not.
Can I breed from rehomed donkeys?
As we rescue so many donkeys, we already have a lot to care for! We therefore have a non-breeding policy which also covers our rehomed donkeys.
Apply to rehome donkeys
If you are still interested in adopting donkeys, we would greatly appreciate it if you could complete this brief form (it will take no more than two minutes). This will allow us to share your contact information with individuals or organizations urgently needing to rehome donkeys or mules in your area.
We would be delighted to answer any questions you may have . Don't hesitate to send an email to [email protected] or call our office Monday to Friday on (00 34) 952 735 077 and we will put you in contact with our Welfare Team.
