One of The Donkey Sanctuary’s newest arrivals has been named after Premiership footballer and donkey champion Kai Havertz.
Kai the foal was born to rescued donkey Rosie at the international animal welfare charity’s headquarters in Devon in early spring.
The decision to name him Kai was prompted by a newspaper article in which the sought after football star talked about his long-held regard for these sensitive and intelligent animals.
In the article Kai revealed that his teammates call him ‘donkey’- but not for the reasons the term has historically been used in football! Aware of his affection for the animals, the star striker was given the nickname because he too is a deep thinker and a calming presence on the field.
Animal-lover Kai, who grew up spending time with rescued donkeys at a sanctuary near his hometown of Aachen, said: “I have followed the work of The Donkey Sanctuary for some time so when they got in touch to say they’d like to name a foal after me, I was delighted.
“Donkeys are such incredible animals, and I am very happy to give my name so this little donkey can help raise awareness of the importance of good donkey welfare, here and all around the world.”
The staff at the sanctuary wanted to recognise Kai’s appreciation of these often-misunderstood animals and their emotional intelligence, and the effort he is making through his new foundation to improve the lives of donkeys in his home country of Germany. Kai Havertz Stiftung is a not-for-profit organisation supporting animal protection and welfare, youth and elderly care, and sporting youth development.
It appears the gorgeous fluffy grey and white donkey foal, who has already captured the hearts of his grooms at the sanctuary in Sidmouth, seems to be a fan of the beautiful game too.
As our images show, Kai the foal can be seen enjoying some enrichment in his field at the sanctuary with his football, closely accompanied by his mum Rosie. Enrichment provides the resident donkeys more opportunities to interact with their environment, make choices and to be more mentally and physically active.
Marianne Steele, CEO of The Donkey Sanctuary, added: “Kai has proved to be a real champion of donkeys in every sense of the word.
“We are so pleased to have the opportunity to name our new foal after him and hope he will continue to inspire people to think about donkeys differently.”
Kai, who scored the winning goal for Chelsea in the Champions League final against Manchester City in 2021, is highly regarded both on and off the field. His football skills and generous heart will no doubt earn him more and more fans across the world, giving him the opportunity to promote animal welfare while encouraging people to see donkeys as the sensitive and intelligent creatures they really are.
For interviews, images and information please contact The Donkey Sanctuary press office on 01395 573124 or 07870 849563 (including out of hours) or send an email.
The Donkey Sanctuary is the world's largest equine welfare charity. Our vision is a world where donkeys and mules live free from suffering and their contribution to humanity is fully valued. We run 10 sanctuaries around the UK and Europe, giving lifelong care to more than 7,000 donkeys and mules. Our hospital treats sick donkeys and trains vets both nationwide and worldwide. Our donkey-facilitated learning programme helps vulnerable children and adults develop life skills by connecting with donkeys on an emotional and physical level. The charity operates programmes worldwide for animals working in agriculture, industry and transportation, and those used in the production of meat and skin.
Please note that the name ‘The Donkey Sanctuary’ should not be abbreviated to ‘Donkey Sanctuary’, and the word ‘The’ should always appear with a capital ‘T’ as above.