A herd of abandoned donkeys finally have a new roof over their heads thanks to big-hearted Sunday People readers.
Before Christmas we told how rescue donkeys Flash, Fergus and their pals were facing a soggy and cold start to 2022 due the leaky asbestos-ridden roof on their shelter at Bleakholt Animal Sanctuary in Edenfield, Lancs.
But the charity which is home to hundreds of rescued dogs, cats, horses, rabbits & goats could not afford the £50,000 needed for the urgent repairs.
So the sanctuary’s chairman, actress and Strictly star Gemma Atkinson, launched a fundraising appeal, backed by the Sunday People, to raise the cash.
After the donkeys and their plight featured in the People, donations began to flood in and the sanctuary has been able to give the donkeys the home they deserve so they can live out the rest of their lives in luxury.
Actress Gemma told the People: “Everyone has been so generous to help our donkeys at Bleakholt. The donkeys are all real characters and deserve to have the best lives as many were abandoned or neglected in the past.
“For people to have helped financially to make sure the stable is dry, weather-proof and snug for our donkeys, means a lot. They live out their lives at Bleakholt and now they have updated conditions to continue being well cared for.”
Sanctuary Manager Karen Weed added: “Thanks to the Sunday People we raised over our target and the donkeys are now living in lovely modernised stable with no rain coming in!
“We have been able to get the roof fully done and now are looking to put new doors in place and repair the floor too.
“It was an old building so all the donations have been a major boost and the donkeys love it.
“We have donkeys and mules who have been abandoned but now they can live their lives out at our sanctuary in an up-to-date stable where they will be snug and content.”
The new stable is a real boost for Flash who has barbed wire scars on his body from a past life. Fergus was seen being beaten up at a horse sale eight years ago and was bought by a kind person and given to Bleakholt.
“We love our donkeys and mules as they all have such different characters and personalities,” said joint Head of Stables Natalie Hill.
“We have Hughie, a Mediterranean miniature donkey, who loves Ana, the only female donkey, and defends her honour.
“There is Marty the mule who was living in a housing estate in Newcastle and being ridden around by children before he was brought here.
“We have just got two new mules, two females as we are overrun by males! They have come from the Donkey Sanctuary – they are Dottie, who was abandoned at Appleby Fair, and Molly who was relinquished due to a previous owner’s change of circumstance.
“They are settling in and we do have ‘donkey social workers’ from the Donkey Sanctuary who come and check that their donkeys and mules are all good.”
The sanctuary always needs donations to cover the cost of looking after all their reduced animals.
To sponsor a Bleakholt donkey or mule, or any animals, go to https://www.bleakholt.org/help/sponsorship/
