Heart to Heart with Donkeys

DWWH hospital and intensive care unit at Bishops Bridge suffered major damage in a wind storm on April 15. A five tonne gum tree crashed onto sheds and stockyards sheltering Joseph and George at the time. The terrified donkeys are lucky to be alive after the massive tree fell onto their enclosures. Both donkeys are…

Donkey Welfare With Heart recommends donkey colts be castrated by a veterinarian. The surgical procedure involves sedating the donkey, then preparing him for the operation that does not take long. Afterwards, the donkey awakes, rises to his feet and is observed closely for 24 hours to ensure normal post operative swelling and draining of the…

Straw is an essential addition to a donkey’s diet. It provides coarse fibre, roughage and bulk that is needed for digestion and dietary balance for good health and weight control. Straw is the ideal accompaniment to grassy pasture. The chewing of straw ensures the dental requirements of the donkey are challenged, helping to maintain their…

Jackson is a 16 year old miniature gelding. He was homeless, hard to catch, fearful of humans with loud voices, aggressive body language, leadropes and halters. He was a nervous little donkey. DWWH collected him and provided specialised daily attention to ensure he had a good new start in a new place, so his future…

Help is always just a phone call away at Donkey Welfare With Heart. A donkey owner was distraught upon discovering his beloved donkey bogged and suffocating in the mud in the farm dam at dawn. (The drought has impacted upon the water volume of the dam hence the bogging of the animal.) DWWH was contacted…

This week during 40-year-old Una’s grooming session we noticed an abdominal oedema, approximately the size of a saucer. Veterinary consultation was requested. DWWH Veterinarian, Dr Gelderman, examined Una noting she has a normal heart beat and respiratory rate, good hydration, ideal body condition and strong well trimmed hooves. We could confirm her appetite was normal…

MONA and LISA have splendidly progressed after Veterinary consultations, dental care, hoof x-rays and examinations, and courses of prescribed medications. They had six weeks in intensive care, a month in high dependency, and finally a 5-day-stay in the observation area, when they no longer required medications. A change in diet (that included withdrawing apples and…

The latest rescues are two jennies in their twenties. Mona and Lisa roamed hundreds of acres for 25 years unattended, unhandled, suffering hoof disorders, hoof overgrowth and pain. DWWH was contacted by  new, near neighbours who were concerned by the absentee owner’s lack of care. We captured the jennies twice a year during the past…