A Heartbreaking discovery
When 20 heavily pregnant mares were discovered during our largest and most harrowing UK rescue, it was a race against time to ensure our expert teams and resources were ready for the arrival of 20 precious foals.
The mums-to-be were found living in horrific, filthy conditions and faced bringing their foals into the same grim existence. The mares were severely underweight, lacking proper nutrients to produce the vital milk their foals would need to survive. All the mothers and foals were at risk of potentially fatal infections and without intervention, all their lives were in danger.
Our teams worked tirelessly to reassure all the pregnant mares that they were safe in their new home, so when the time came to foal, they would feel calm and comfortable with the people around them. No one could have imagined at the time that such a harrowing case would deliver so many welcome and heartwarming surprises.
Donate today
Your kind donation will help change the stories of more foals in need.
Providing expert care
Over the course of a whole year, our teams witnessed the birth of each foal. Donkeys have a long gestation period of 11 to 14 and a half months, but we simply didn’t know how far into their pregnancy each mare was when they came into our care. Our expert grooms and veterinary teams used their specialist knowledge of donkeys to estimate how close each mare was to foaling.
Cameras were set up throughout the barns at our New Arrivals Unit and were monitored by our farm team 24 hours, seven days a week. This gave the mothers the privacy and space they needed, but also meant that our team was ready to step in straight away when foaling started or if there were any problems.
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. The team’s sheer dedication in transforming these donkeys’ stories gave these defenceless foals a hopeful future, and their mothers a chance at a fresh start.
See the difference your donation can make
A group of young donkeys born within a year of each other following their mums’ dramatic rescue from Wales are leading happy and healthy lives in Devon.
Sharon and Mango, the rescued mothers of adoption donkeys Peanut and Maverick, are thriving following one of our biggest rescue operations in 2021 – although Sharon still requires close support years later.
Three foals born into sanctuary care following their mothers’ rescue have built an unbreakable bond.
A tiny foal born to a mother who was rescued in one of our most complex and historic operations is thriving in sanctuary care three years on.
Protecting precious new lives
It’s been four years since we welcomed the first of the foals born into our care following our largest-ever UK rescue. The foals have flourished at our sanctuary and have grown into very special young donkeys, each with their own unique personalities.
Without the kindness of generous supporters, these foals would have faced a very different future. Their survival would have been at risk from the moment they were born.
Together we’ve helped to change their stories, ensuring their lives are safe and filled with love and expert care. But our work is far from over.
By donating this spring, you can protect more precious new lives by helping foals have the best possible start in life.
Make a donation
£10 a month could help cover the costs of veterinary checks and treatment to help more foals have long and healthy lives.
£6 a month could go towards providing enrichment activities that keep foals happy and mentally stimulated.
£4 a month could help pay for essential feed and supplements that give foals all the nutrition they need to support their development.
£50 could help cover the cost of providing round the clock care, ensuring newborn foals are delivered safely and able to take their mother’s milk.
£20 could help to pay for immunisations for newborn foals, ensuring they have everything they need to live healthy lives right from the start.
£10 could pay for fresh straw to ensure mares and their foals have a warm place to sleep every night, keeping them safe and protected.
