Happy home for deserving trio

Bubbles, Polly and Muffin were all born at our New Arrivals Unit after their mothers were rescued from appalling conditions in our largest and most complex UK rescue ever. 

The historic rescue took place in February 2021, when more than 70 donkeys were discovered living in horrific, filthy conditions at a site in Carmarthenshire, Wales.  

Among these donkeys were 20 pregnant mares who were severely underweight and were suffering with long hooves, sharp teeth and lice infestations. 

Due to the neglect they had endured, many of the mares lacked the proper nutrients needed to produce the vital milk their foals would need to survive.  

The pregnant mares were brought to our New Arrivals Unit, where our teams worked tirelessly to support them, so when the time came to foal they would feel calm and comfortable with the people around them. 

We dedicated four barns to the pregnant mares, which were divided so that each donkey had access to a stable, yard and paddock, giving them their own space to give birth and allowing them to stay close to their bonded friends.

Three new arrivals

Three months after the rescue, Polly was born, closely followed by Muffin and Bubbles the month after. 

Our teams supported each mother and foal ensuring they had a safe delivery and that their foals were able to stand to take their mother’s milk without difficulty. 

When the trio were born, each of their mothers struggled to produce enough milk to feed them as they battled to maintain their weight post-foaling. These issues arose because of their mothers’ prior issues with malnutrition and poor teeth. 

Thanks to our caring grooms, the three new mums were given all the support they needed to provide for their foals, and once the youngsters were weaned they were placed together.  

Soon after being introduced to each other, the foals developed an unbreakable bond, and what followed was adventure and fun by the bucketload.

Bubbles has learned to hide the grooming brushes in the straw to puzzle her grooms, while Muffin enjoys pushing them around on the floor and listening to the sound of the scraping. 

More than three years later, Bubbles, Polly and Muffin are all full of life and spend their days playing and exploring the fields of their Devon home.