Got a question to ask? Here are the answers to some of the most frequently asked questions we receive.

Visit us

Our Sidmouth sanctuary is open to the public 9am - 4pm seven days a week. A visit to our Sidmouth sanctuary does not require pre-booking.

Our regional centres (Belfast, Birmingham, Ivybridge, Leeds and Manchester) are open to visitors at select times. Learn more about our new visitor experience

Opening times:

  • Saturdays: 10am - 12noon and 1pm - 3pm.
  • First Sunday of the month: 10am - 12noon and 1pm - 3pm.

There is an online booking system with limited tickets for morning and afternoon visits. The visit will remain free of charge but a ticket will be essential for you to gain entry.

Donations

Q: How can I donate?
A: The Donkey Sanctuary receives no government funding, so your donations are absolutely vital to our work. You can donate to The Donkey Sanctuary online or by cheque (made payable to “The Donkey Sanctuary”).

Q: If I donate, where does my money go?
A: When you donate, your money helps us to look after over 7,000 donkeys living in our ten sanctuaries across the UK and the rest of Europe, and provide those in need with all the help they need. Without you help, donkeys like Tommy and Timmy would be subjected to a lifetime of cruelty. Your money will also help to fund various projects that help to improve the lives of donkeys and people worldwide, as well as vitally important work like our Stop the Slaughter campaign. If you would like more in-depth information about how our donations are spent, please take a look at our report and accounts.

Adopt a donkey

Q: How long will my adoption pack take to arrive?
A: We always try to get your beautiful adoption pack or renewal pack to you or your gift recipient within 14 days. However please be aware that we use Royal Mail to send these, and delivery is subject to any delays that they may be experiencing. In the meantime, you can download your printable adoption certificate from your confirmation email.

Q: Why can’t I see my adoption donkey on the website anymore?
A: Some donkeys have been removed from the website because they have retired from the adoption scheme. Henry and Tiny Tim in Manchester and Shocks and Cisco in Birmingham have been removed from the website because they retired from the adoption scheme on 1 September. If you adopted any of these donkeys, you should have received a letter explaining what this meant for your adoption.

Q: Can I still visit a donkey if they have been retired from the adoption scheme?
A: This depends on who you would like to visit and where they are. Henry and Tiny Tim in Manchester and Shocks and Cisco in Birmingham have now retired from the adoption scheme. Cisco and Henry have moved to guardian homes and Tiny Tim has moved to our New Arrivals unit in Devon, and they are not able to be visited. Although Shocks is currently still at our Birmingham sanctuary and you are able to visit him until he moves (bookings required).

Q: How do I adopt a donkey?
A: Adopting a donkey is a fantastic way to help support our donkeys. It couldn’t be more simple - you can adopt a donkey online.

Q: What’s included in the adoption pack?
A: Your adoption pack will contain two beautiful portraits of your brand new friend, four postcards, a certificate and a membership card.

Q: Will my adoption pack differ if I buy it from one of your shops?
A: If you choose to take the adoption pack away with you on the day, it will be exactly the same as those ordered online, however we will be unable to personalise your certificate. If this is an issue, our shops can arrange for your personalised pack to be sent through the post.

Q: Can I adopt a specific donkey?
A: There are many wonderful donkeys across the UK available for you to adopt. We have the perfect match for you or a loved one – there are shy ones, fun-loving ones, brave ones and gentle donkeys, all waiting for you to adopt. Why not take a look at our adoption list?

Q: How much does it cost to adopt a donkey?
A: It costs just £3 a month or £36 for the year to adopt a donkey. The average cost of keeping a donkey is now a staggering £2,000 a year. Your money will be used to help with feed, bedding and medical bills among the many other costs of providing a safe home for our donkeys.

Q: Can I visit my donkey?
A: Yes if your donkey lives at our Sidmouth sanctuary, all the walkways around the sanctuary will be open, allowing plenty of opportunities to visit your adoption donkey. If you adopt a donkey at any of our regional sanctuaries you will need to pre-book a free ticket for a visitor open day via our online booking system.

Our adoption donkeys are always treated as part of their wider herd, so please understand that you are coming to see our whole herd of donkeys, of which your adoption donkey is a part.

As such, we do not bring adoption donkeys over to adopters individually, as we respect their freedom of choice to move around the fields. All animals benefit from having choice in their day-to-day routine and giving donkeys freedom to roam lets them choose a way of engaging with their environment that suits their needs best, whatever their character. If your adoption donkey is not in view, more often than not they will appear as they move within their environment if you wait patiently. We have done all we can to make sure visitors have access to as many viewpoints as possible, but we thank you for your understanding that, with animals who have freedom of choice, not every donkey will be in view all of the time.

Q: Has my payment gone through?
A: If you adopted online, you should have received an email confirming payment. Do get in touch if you have any issues – you can complete our online contact form or call our team on 01395 573133 between 8:30am and 4:30pm on weekdays.

Q: Can more than one person adopt each donkey?
A: Due to the nature of our adoption scheme, it’s important to allow multiple people to adopt each donkey. The scheme is a vital way of raising funds to support the donkeys in our care, as well as our work and projects worldwide. Restricting adoptions to one adopter per donkey would vastly affect the amount of money we could raise through the scheme, and would also weaken the experience of those who have chosen to adopt.

Q: Can I adopt from abroad?
A: Yes. We welcome adopters from all over the world to our wonderful adoption family. If you adopt online, your adoption pack will be sent directly to your address.

Q: Can I adopt in a foreign currency?
A: Yes. If adopting from a foreign bank account, the equivalent adoption fee will be taken at current exchange rates. However, please note that you can only adopt by Direct Debit from a UK bank account.

Q: I’m adopting as a gift – can the initial adoption pack be sent to me?
A: Yes. You will have the option to buy as a gift when you adopt online. Just follow the instructions once you add your donkey to the basket, and we’ll make sure you receive the adoption pack ready to wrap. All future correspondence will then be sent to the adopter’s address.

Q: Can I see my donkey on a webcam?
A: There are eight webcams available to watch across our main sanctuary in Sidmouth, Devon. You might be able to spot Bonnie in Main Barn, Ruby, Drizzle and Cocoa in Shelter 1, Timothy and Walter in Shelter 2, Ashley and Zena in Shelter 4, and Percy in Buffalo Barn.

Donkey care

Q: How do I look after my donkey?
A: You can find plenty of important information you’ll need about looking after your donkey in our Donkey Care Handbook. Factsheets about various areas of donkey care are also available online. If you have a specific enquiry, please complete our online contact form . If your enquiry is urgent, please contact your vet.

Q: What should I feed my donkey?
A: Advice on donkey nutrition is available in our Donkey Care Handbook. Nutrition and feeding information is also available online.

Q: Can you advise me on my donkey’s health?
A: If you have concerns over your donkey’s health, always consult your vet. If you would like some advice over a non-urgent matter, please complete our online contact form.

Q: How much land do I need to keep a pair of donkeys?
A: We would recommend that you need a minimum of one acre of land to keep a pair of donkeys.

Q: How much does it cost to keep a pair of donkeys?
A: The average cost of keeping a pair of donkeys could be in the region of £2,000 per year. Elderly donkeys or those with health problems could cost considerably more. We recommend that new donkey owners attend our Introduction to Donkey Care training course to learn more about the responsibilities that come with owning a donkey. For more information, please take a look at our cost of owning a donkey guide.

Q: How can I prepare for the winter?
A: It’s important to prepare and plan ahead for the winter. As a donkey’s coat is not waterproof, proper shelter must be provided. It’s best to remember that winter care is about helping your donkey withstand the lower temperature and stay healthy, rather than shutting them away completely. Advice on how to properly care for your donkey through the colder months of the year is available on our winter care factsheet.

Q: Should my donkey wear a rug?
A: Young and healthy donkeys are unlikely to need a rug in the winter as their coat will naturally thicken as daylight hours shorten. Old or sick donkeys, however, may struggle to maintain body heat during the colder months, and a rug as well as other measures should be considered. You can find more information on our winter care factsheet.

Q: Can you recommend a rug supplier?
A: For advice on where to buy any of your donkey supplies or equipment, it’s best to contact us.

Welfare

Q: Can I relinquish my donkey?
A: If you currently own or care for donkeys or mules and are having problems, please contact our welfare advice line on 01395 578222, Monday-Friday 8.30am-4.30pm to speak to our experience team.

Alternatively, please email [email protected] and then we can discuss your future donkey care needs in more detail.

Q: Can I have an update on my relinquished donkey?
A: If you would like an update on your relinquished donkey during the new arrivals period, please call our admissions team on 01395 578222, or email [email protected]

Once this period is complete and you have been notified that your donkey has moved to one of our farms, please contact our farms admin team on 01395 578222 for any updates.

Q: Can I visit my relinquished donkey?
A: You are more than welcome to visit donkeys by appointment once they have completed their settling in period and moved away from the new arrivals unit. You can arrange your visit by calling our farms admin team on 01395 578222 or send an email.

Q: Can I report a donkey in distress?
A: If you are concerned about the welfare of a donkey in the UK, please contact our welfare team or call 01395 578222.

General

Q: Can I rehome a pair of donkeys?
A: If you feel that you could provide a loving home for a pair of rescue donkeys and have at least an acre of land to spare, take a look at our Rehoming Scheme for more information.

Q: Do you have any vacancies?
A: If you are interested in joining us, check our current vacancies online.

Q: Do you offer work experience?
A: Yes. Take a look at our work experience page for more information.

Q: Can I volunteer?
A: We’re always looking for enthusiastic people to contribute to our work. As long as you’re over 16, passionate about donkeys and have regular free time you can offer us, we’d love to hear from you. Take a look at our volunteer opportunities.

Q: Can I organise a fundraiser?
A: Yes. To get started with your fundraiser, please register your details with our team. Once completed, you’ll be able to download our fundraising pack, full of useful ideas and information to make your fundraiser one to remember.

Q: Can I take part in The Donkey Sanctuary Weekly Lottery?

Yes. Providing that you are over the age of 18, you can take part in our Weekly Lottery. Please head to our Weekly Lottery website for full details

Q: Do you accept used postage stamps?
A: Yes. If you would like to send us your used postage stamps, pop them in an envelope addressed to: The Donkey Sanctuary (Used Stamps), Sidmouth, Devon, EX10 0NU.

Q: Do you have an online gift shop?
A: Yes. Take a look at our fabulous range of donkey gifts for all the family in our online gift shop.

Q: Do you ship abroad?
A: Yes, although a postage charge of £10 will be added for gift shop orders shipped to Europe, and a £20 charge for orders shipped to the rest of the world.

Q: What do the donkeys’ collars indicate?
A: Our different coloured donkey collars indicate the gender of our donkeys and whether they require any additional care. For more information, take a look at our handy collar guide.

Q: What is The Donkey Sanctuary’s policy on breeding?
A: We have a strict no breeding policy at The Donkey Sanctuary. If it is safe to do so, all stallions that come into our care are castrated before being allowed to live alongside mares. However, as we will never turn away a donkey in need of a home, we do take pregnant mares and foals into our care.

Q: Why can’t I see any donkeys on the webcam?
A: Most of our webcams only overlook part of our donkeys’ paddocks, so the donkeys won’t always be in frame. Keep a look out though – they’re not always so camera shy!

Q: Why isn’t the webcam working?
A: Until recently, Flash was the main means of delivering live video over the web into your browser. As is always the case with technology, eventually things move on and Flash is no longer the go-to multimedia app for the web – the world has already begun moving to HTML5, a new standard for web pages, interactivity and video playback.

We have put together a webcam troubleshooting page which hopefully will help our webcam visitors in resolving the issue they are having where their PCs, tablets and mobile devices are not seeing any of the webcams.

(Updated: 18/10/23 16:14 GMT)