Healing Wounds, Treating 35 Donkeys and Supporting Owners with Food Hampers

A big thank you to all our amazing supporters! Your compassion and care mean the world to working donkeys in desperate need of help. Because of you, together with our project partner Blind Love, we can provide treatments, humane harnesses, resources and kindness to support working animals.

At the outreach in October, Blind Love, together with the donkey owners, decided to pool resources for the November and December outreaches, anticipating a massive turnout of almost 150 owners in early December.

The November/December outreach was held on 7th December. Blind Love managed to prepare 20 humane harnesses and raised an additional R15,000 for small Christmas food hampers for the owners, who are among the poorest communities in the country. 

Armed with enough ivermectin to treat 180 donkeys, tick grease, fly spray, basic wound care treatments, and 18 kg of carrots for the donkeys, the team headed out bright and early on Saturday, 7th December.

The turnout was lower than expected, with many owners explaining that, as the end of the year approaches, work picks up significantly, leaving them unable to attend. However, 16 donkey owners did participate, bringing along their children and wives, creating a lively and bustling atmosphere. Despite the blistering heat, Blind Love got to work recording and treating the 35 donkeys that were brought to the outreach.

Two donkeys had stab wounds on their backs; one was healing well, while the other required cleaning and treatment with antibiotic wound spray. All the donkeys received ivermectin for internal parasites, which also helps to control ticks. Legs were cleaned and treated for fly bites, and all donkeys were sprayed with fly spray.

One of the donkeys, Percy, had been stabbed above his eye at the end of October. He had been treated by Dr. Annie Mears, who removed a broken piece of his skull. Percy attended the outreach, and his wound was healing remarkably well. The swelling had reduced, and he had regained full sight in that eye.

Percy

Blind Love also cleaned and trimmed hooves where necessary, checked harnesses, and replaced them as needed. Only one case of a shoulder rub caused by an ill-fitting harness was observed.

The local supermarket delivered the food hampers, which were distributed to the grateful owners and their children, while the donkeys happily munched on their carrots.

Given the resources still available, Blind Love decided to hold another outreach on 19th December, offering ivermectin treatments, harnesses, and more food hampers.

We, alongside Blind Love, extend heartfelt thanks to our supporters, whose generous contributions make it possible to improve the lives of working donkeys and their communities