Rob.
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Can we really believe Spring is here again after all the wind and rain of January, February and March? MAN-TALK In the event the little chap was found to be in good condition and the owner did bring him down to the house and stables when the weather became really cold and wet but the gentleman had a problem in that he had two stallions and two mares: a recipe for disaster if they all got in together! He had been trying unsuccessfully to sell this particular stallion for some months so, as we knew of someone who was looking to buy a companion donkey, we made some hasty phone calls. The deal was agreed provided we would organise the gelding operation before delivering him to his new home where there were already a mare with foal and another gelding. With our limited facilities at the Sanctuary we had a problem. It was not wise to bring a young stallion into contact with our elderly mares, especially as the combination of post-operative care, plus three weeks to ensure the stallion was 'safe' meant he would be here for at least a month, so we started enquiring with friends who might be able to help out. At this point it was Jim to the rescue: Jim already has six donkeys of his own, one of which was also due for gelding, and had land available where the two youngsters could keep each other company until the operations were over so we were quick to accept Jim's generous offer to look after our little fellow for the duration. With animals things are rarely straightforward, however, as we were to discover and Jim certainly got more than he bargained for! Our donkey Lennie, as he was called, turned out to be haemophilliac (would not stop bleeding) and Jim had a worrying night following his operation when the vet had to make an emergency run to administer the clotting agent and to check for internal bleeding. There were some critical hours during which Jim played nurse but thankfully the morning dawned on Lennie struggling to his feet with the worst behind him. Jim's own little donkey fortunately had no complications seeming hardly to notice the operation and was reunited with his gang the next day. Lennie took a little longer to recover and regain strength but a month later he was delivered to his new home where he has made good friends with Scooby-Doo, Noddy and Amy. He is a lovely natured little donkey who deserves his good home. Our next stallion came in from a small farm where, due to an incident with the Gardai, the owners had left the country, abandoning the donkey along with many other animals and fowl, most of which were in poor to disgraceful condition. These were subsequently rehomed through the Sligo SPCA. Rob is an elderly stallion, very gentle and with lovely manners so sooner than try to geld him at his advanced age, he joined Lob and Nob in a permanent local foster home, settling in without a bother and soon proving to be a favourite with everyone. But more companions were on the way Murray and Mint were bought by a donkey lover from very unhappy circumstances and signed over to the Sai Sanctuary. We had known about these donkeys for many years but had been unable to persuade their owner to part with them. He, for his part, had always kept just the right side of the line that would have involved Gardai intervention and prosecution though the conditions the little donkeys suffered in the winter were consistently miserable. One of the pair is in his teens, the other well over 30 years, again too old to risk gelding, and as they had been together for most of the younger one's life it would have been cruel to separate them at this stage. So they too joined Lob, Nob and Rob at their wonderful manor house home. Their long suffering foster parent would be well justified in thinking he has initiated an 'old Jack's home' - a sanctuary for donkey stallions! Fortunately they all get on well together, though Murray likes to think he's the Mafia boss!
A snowy Sanctuary scene. |
Enquiries to: Sue Paling, Sathya Sai Sanctuary Trust for Nature, Cloghogue Lower, Castlebaldwin, Co Sligo, Ireland. Frontpage | All the donkeys | Spring 1994 | Autumn 1994 | Spring 1995 | Autumn 1995 | Autumn 1996 | Spring 1997 | Autumn 1997 | Spring 1998 | Autumn 1998 | Spring 1999 | Autumn 1999 | Spring 2000 | Autumn 2000 | Spring 2001 | Autumn 2001 | Spring 2002 | Autumn 2002 | Adopt a Donkey | Donkey Links | E mail
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