ADOPT A DONKEY
Next week (May 7-15) is Donkey Week. Organised by the Donkey Sanctuary in Devon, it is intended to raise people’s awareness of these fabulous creatures.
As well as rescuing and rehoming donkeys and mules, and with nearly 50 years of experience working with donkeys, they also help sanctuaries all over the world with advice and research to ensure their donkeys have a good life and to protect their welfare.
My brother and I were lucky enough to have a pet donkey when we were kids and they really are fab’luss – real sociable characters who love affection and company. I recall that they don’t have waterproof coats like horses, so need shelter from the rain and strong sunshine; and here are a few more ass-tounding facts about them:
1. They are capable of remembering a place they have been to or other donkeys they met 25 years ago! I can’t even do that!
2. A donkey will never get involved in an activity if it considers it to be unsafe. If they sense something wrong, they will simply not move ahead and will start digging in their heels. It is this behaviour, which has made people think that donkeys are stubborn. I can do that!
3. With proper maintenance and care, a donkey can live for more than 40 years.
4. Donkeys are by nature herd animals. They prefer to stay in groups but a single donkey can actually live happily with group of goats.
5. A donkey is capable of hearing another donkey from a distance of 60 miles in proper desert conditions. This is possible because of their large ears. These also help to keep their body cool in hot and arid desert conditions.
Welsh entrepreneur and Secret Millionaire Kevin Green is a big fan of donkeys, with his love of them starting 24 years ago when he bought cattle.
He explained: “Basically, one donkey, Victoria, was a compulsory purchase as part of
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the sale because she was friendly with two of the cows.
“I took her home, not realising she was pregnant, and three months later she had a foal who I called Emma. That was more than 23 years ago and I’ve loved her, and the others, ever since.”
And one of my father’s favourite jokes was donkey-esque. He used to say that he never understood why his best friend called him Donkey, adding “Eyeore, eyeore, eyeore to know better!”
If you pop into the website www. thedonkeysanctuary.org.uk you can find out more about donkeys in general, and how you can help. Or if you fancy adopting or visiting a donkey or mule a little closer to home, you can find out more at www.ape-monkey-rescue.org. uk/donkeysandmules.html