Fresh start for Xena abandoned on farmer's land

The welfare team arranged to visit his farm, where they found a bonded pair of brown mares loose in one of the fields. Both donkeys were overweight with overgrown and cracked hooves. Although one was very nervous around people, the other was more confident.

Our Welfare Adviser, Clare Crowther, arranged to return to the farm with a vet, who x-rayed both donkeys’ hooves and carried out a health check. Sadly, the nervous mare had a chronic bone infection that had been caused by the neglect she had suffered, and the vet had to make the sad decision to put her to sleep. Clare said: “This donkey was only about seven years old, so it was very sad to have her life cut short by neglect. The infection could have been avoided if she’d received appropriate hoof care during her life.”

The second mare, Xena, was in better health. The vet felt that she would be okay after her hooves were carefully trimmed and that she was fit to travel.

The next challenge was finding somewhere safe for her to go. Due to the ongoing welfare crisis, The Donkey Sanctuary has had another very busy year rehoming abandoned or unwanted donkeys in the community. While our sanctuary sites are full, we try to make space for a very limited number of the most vulnerable donkeys when no alternative, viable options are available. Fortunately, at the last minute, a space was found on one of our farms so that Xena could be rehabilitated.

After being allowed to grieve for her companion, Xena was relinquished into the care of The Donkey Sanctuary. She is now staying on one of our farms in Cork, where she is receiving the care she needs. Her hooves have been trimmed, and she is recovering well from her ordeal.

Country Manager Laura Foster said: “We were lucky to be able to find a space for Xena on one of our farms in Cork, but demand for donkey welfare services far outstrips available sanctuary sites, and we know we will be working hard this winter to find solutions for as many donkeys in the community as we can. As the cost of living crisis deepens, there will be a knock-on effect on donkey welfare. It’s why we’re doing everything we can to help people look after their donkeys before serious issues arise.”

It’s thanks to the generosity of people like you that we’re able to help donkeys like Xena. By supporting our Winter Appeal, you’re helping us to find new homes for the most vulnerable donkeys.