Virtual sanctuary visit to bust the mule myth
ANIMAL lovers are being invited to virtually meet over 100 mules and hinnies as The Donkey Sanctuary’s award-winning Sanctuary From Your Sofa event returns this weekend.
Going live on Sunday, September 19 from the charity’s Town Barton Farm in Tedburn St Mary, viewers will be able to tune in from 2pm to watch two realtime broadcasts, plus a pre-recorded film.
The virtual visit will include a tour of the 144-acre Town Barton Farm, which is not open to the public, and an opportunity to meet the grooms who care for the resident mules and hinnies, as well as 170 donkeys.
Staff will also explain how mules - the offspring of a male donkey (jack) and female horse (mare) - differ characteristically and physically from donkeys.
Paul Carter, farm manager at Town Barton Farm, said: “We are really pleased to be able to give viewers a ‘behind the scenes’ look around Town
Barton and demonstrate how we care for our resident herd. Mules are beautiful creatures and are often misunderstood, and we hope that by the end of the day, people will have a much greater understanding of these special animals.”
The final live visit to the farm at 3pm will turn the spotlight on the individual stories of some of the mules who now call Town Barton Farm their home. This includes nine-year-old Lugs, who came into the care of The Donkey Sanctuary as a foal in 2013.
Despite the trauma in her early life, discovered cowering alongside her mother who had been severely injured, Lugs went on to make a full recovery thanks to expert care from staff at the charity and is now a favourite at Town Barton.
For the full running order and how to watch Sanctuary From Your Sofa, please visit the website www.thedonkeysanctuary.org.uk