For The Love Of Donkeys
Pat Coulter meets the animals that inspired Dr Elisabeth Svendsen to set up a sanctuary.
THERE’S a little piece of Devon that’s for ever donkey heaven, thanks to the devotion of one lady, her unerring vision and her love of donkeys.
The Donkey Sanctuary is a field of dreams, where thousands of donkeys have found safe refuge over the past 50 years, rescued from real-life nightmares.
It offers a haven for these gentle, intelligent and sociable creatures, where they can live out their days with the best of care and love from staff, volunteers and visitors alike.
The Donkey Sanctuary is about to celebrate its 50th anniversary, founded as it was in 1969 by the late Dr Elisabeth (Betty) Svendsen MBE, who sadly passed away in 2011 at the age of eighty-one.
Her love of donkeys was unquestionable; her passion undeniable.
The legacy of this extraordinary lady is an international charity with far-reaching influence, which helps to alleviate the enduring plight of donkeys and mules around the globe.
The charity campaigns in some 30 countries, from Spain to Nepal, Ireland to Mexico, educating donkey owners and handlers, and much more besides.
Betty Svendsen’s vision, upheld to this day, was “a world where donkeys and mules live free from suffering and their contribution to humanity is fully valued.”
In recognition of this momentous anniversary, we’re visiting Donkey Sanctuary HQ just outside Sidmouth, on Devon’s dramatic Jurassic Coast.
Entry is free, and there’s a tail-wagging, dog-friendly welcome for Poppy, too.
This is testament to the generous spirit of Betty Svendsen: she believed that no-one who was kind-hearted enough to visit and support the donkeys should be expected to pay.
Of course, donations are always gratefully received – and put to good use. So I’m only too happy to pop my contribution into the honesty box.
Poppy’s already making friends with one of the residents, happily touching noses with a cute, gentle donkey, who is curious to make her acquaintance.
I’m soon enveloped by the sanctuary’s reassuring sense of wellbeing and purposefulness.
It’s heart-warming to see herds of care-free donkeys happily grazing in buttercup-filled paddocks, joyfully cantering about with their playmates.
It’s an uplifting and inspirational place, where compassion has overcome cruelty, and contentment has replaced suffering.
Here at the Donkey Sanctuary, the story of how the charity came about unfolds.
Born in Yorkshire, Betty began her affinity with donkeys at a young age, urging her parents to make car journey detours so she could say “hello” to some donkeys in a field.
When her own young family came along, an ingenious “Dragon’s Den”-style, problem-solving design for drying wet terry nappies helped with financial stability. Betty and her husband were then able to buy the Salston Hotel in Devon.
“I must admit,” she recalled in her autobiography, “the six acres of ground attracted me, as I wanted a donkey!”
Enter Naughty Face in 1969, a beautiful grey donkey with deep limpid eyes and a mournful bray that woke all the hotel guests far too early every morning!
And so it all began.
In the cleanest stable yard I’ve ever seen, donkeys are ambling about, amiably meeting and greeting visitors, only too happy to be fussed and petted.
I notice every donkey is wearing a colour-coded collar. One volunteer groom explains that every new donkey is given an intake number which is recorded on the collar, together with their name.
Red collars are for geldings, and yellow signify mares. Then there’s pink for blind or partially sighted donkeys, and other colours indicate whether a particular animal needs an extra daily feed or perhaps a special medicine.
Like Blueberry Pie, who’s loving the attention, donkeys exude bonhomie, encouraging younger visitors not to be shy or fearful of them, and to simply trust their gentle nature.
After all, they are wonderfully huggable.
Betty Svendsen knew only too well how therapeutic donkeys could be. In fact, she pioneered donkey-assisted therapy for children with additional needs.
“Donkeys have a unique presence; a zen-like, grounded quality,” Caron Whaley, Director of Donkey-Assisted Therapy, explains. “As social creatures, donkeys are aware of their environment and the people within it.
“I’ve witnessed sessions where people who struggle to communicate or connect emotionally somehow seem to be able to connect with our donkeys.”
A wonderful example is the heart-warming bond forged between twentythree-year-old Emily and miniature donkey Juniper.
Emily is autistic and has both limited vision and hearing.
The duo’s friendship is mutually beneficial, with Juniper enjoying interacting with Emily, thus enriching his life as well.
When he brays, it makes Emily giggle – and she always ensures she says goodbye to her pal Juniper before leaving.
I discover many visitors are Donkey Sanctuary regulars, such as Tom and Brenda from Kent.
“We spent our honeymoon in Sidmouth twenty-five years ago, and love to come here every year to see what Tom calls ‘our’ donkeys,” Brenda explains. “As a special anniversary present, our daughter adopted a donkey on our behalf, and we’re here to meet him.
“When we’re back home, we can still see how he’s getting on from live webcams on the sanctuary’s website.”
Every donkey has a story to tell, and none more so than Teddy, the blind donkey.
Teddy is a truly inspirational animal, and has overcome great odds to live a full and happy life.
Sadly, he has been blind since birth, but his determination has shone through.
I’m amazed to learn about his perseverance in overcoming his challenging disability.
Teddy has learned how to find his way around his stable and the surrounding fields.
He can neatly avoid obstacles, is able to sniff out when food is coming, can hear the grooms driving up the road before anyone else, and generally manages to be first in line when there’s grooming and a cuddle on offer.
I’m smitten with this teddy bear of a donkey, who is incredibly loving and looks as cute as can be.
He is fortunate to have Lucky as his pal – a sighted donkey who’s always there by his side to help guide him along.
It’s astonishing to hear about the donkey champions who help support the charity in so many ingenious ways.
Helen McAteer is a
keen knitter, and has been making woolly donkeys to sell in the HQ gift shop and online.
When she first came across a picture of a “woolly”, she was literally hooked.
“I have always enjoyed knitting and felt this was a perfect way to support the Donkey Sanctuary.
“I usually knit about two donkeys a week, and find that knitting them relaxes me and helps soothe away the stresses of a busy day.
“I am still enjoying knitting them, and am now well past my hundredth donkey!”
Viv has been a staunch Donkey Sanctuary supporter for over 30 years.
The intrepid lady took to the skies recently in a Spitfire to celebrate her ninetieth birthday, and rather than receive birthday presents, she thoughtfully asked family and friends to make donations to the Donkey Sanctuary instead.
On our tour, we meet one unfortunate donkey with a bandaged leg. It’s a reminder that many new inmates often need veterinary care and rehabilitation of some kind.
The on-site donkey hospital was built in 1980, and has recently been extended. Poorly donkeys are assured the very best of care.
The ultra-modern hospital houses an equine operating theatre with preparation rooms, stables for patients in need of extra care, and a range of up-to-date diagnostic facilities.
Just like us when we’re feeling unwell, donkeys appreciate the nearness of loved ones, so poorly donkeys arrive with their long-eared companions to avoid the stress of being separated from their soulmates.
The hospital is staffed by a full-time veterinary and nursing team, along with support staff including equine dentists and laboratory technicians.
It’s time for tea and cake in the café, where pictures of Betty and her loving donkeys adorn the walls.
Revived and refreshed, we strike out on one of the wonderful walks from the sanctuary.
Poppy and I head down the steep, wildflower-rich valley towards the beach.
Here, sheltered by the cliffs, lies Weston Plats, once a thriving market garden from which produce was sent as far as London.
Even in this place, donkeys once proved their usefulness by carrying heavy panniers of harvested crops back up the precipitous hill, and transporting loads of seaweed from the beach to enrich the soil for growing.
Back at Donkey HQ, it’s now Betty Svendsen’s granddaughter, Dawn, who continues the unending work, ever mindful there are always new challenges to overcome.
“I always feel that the donkeys, once in the safety of our sanctuaries, are the lucky ones.
“They’re our greatest ambassadors, helping us to raise awareness and further funds to reach out to those in desperate plight across the globe.”