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Donkey charity donation provides warmth for retired working animals in Santorini
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Donkey charity donation provides warmth for retired working animals in Santorini
PRESS RELEASE from The Donkey Sanctuary
25 January 2012
Retired working donkeys, mules and horses on the Greek island of Santorini are staying warm and dry this winter thanks to the generosity of international animal welfare charity The Donkey Sanctuary.
The animals are all in the care of the Santorini Animal Welfare Association (SAWA) after being retired from work or abandoned by their former owners, but concerns were raised about keeping them warm and dry over the winter months as the charity had nowhere for them to shelter from the weather.
Staff at The Donkey Sanctuary’s Axnoller Farm in Dorset pledged to send a number of smaller donkey rugs not currently in use out to SAWA to help with the problem, and a further eight rugs were purchased for the larger donkeys, mules and horses at a cost of £335.
Christina Kaloudi at SAWA explains why the rugs were needed:
“We are so grateful for the rugs as it has proved to be a very cold and rainy winter and I am sure we would have had casualties as we do not have indoors premises. At the moment we have 3 donkeys, 7 mules and 2 horses all retired from their long working days at the Bay of Fira or abandoned due to injury or lack to sustain them. Canella, Esperanza and Jasper (two mules and a donkey) suffer from severe arthritis and joint injuries so they in particular really needed to keep warm and dry... What amazed us most is how easily they got used to the rugs that they all wore for the first time in their lives! We thank you all at The Donkey Sanctuary for remembering our small island... and we wish that 2012 will bring more proper owners and less pain to the animals!”
Andrew Judge, The Donkey Sanctuary’s Head of European Operations, explains the charity’s connection with Santorini:
“The Donkey Sanctuary has been working on the island of Santorini since 2006, when our late founder, Dr Elisabeth Svendsen, began campaigning for better conditions for donkeys and mules working as tourist taxis, and for the establishment of a cable car as an alternative means of transport.
“After years of campaigning, and working closely with SAWA and the local authorities, we recently established a code of practice setting out acceptable standards of animal welfare and ensuring that only animals fit enough to work are allowed to do so. It also sets out limits on the number of donkeys and mules an operator can hire out as tourist taxis on any one day. In September 2011 we were pleased to see this code of practice enforced by fines for those who were found not to comply with this legislation which protects the welfare of these hardworking animals. The donated rugs will help ensure that these animals can enjoy a warm and dry retirement.”
The Donkey Sanctuary continues to urge visitors to the island to keep a close eye on the condition of donkeys and mules, and only ride a tourist taxi once they have considered the following:
•Water, Food, Rest – is it obvious the animals have these?
•Weight – are you too heavy (suggested comfortable weight guidelines are 50kilos for a donkey, 80kilos for a mule)?
•Tack – is it in good condition?
•Visitors are being asked to send information – along with photographs and video, if possible – if they have any concerns about the condition of donkey or mules on the island.
To find out more about the work of The Donkey Sanctuary in Europe and to get in touch about the condition of donkeys and mules in Santorini, please visit www.thedonkeysanctuary.org.uk/europe.
For more information about SAWA’s resident donkeys, mules and horses, please visit www.sawasantorini.org/.
ENDS
Notes to Editor
For an interview, further information or images, please contact The Donkey Sanctuary press office on 01395 573097/573014 or mobile 07970 927778
About The Donkey Sanctuary
International animal welfare charity The Donkey Sanctuary was founded by the late Dr Elisabeth Svendsen M.B.E. in 1969 and aims to protect donkeys and mules and promote their welfare worldwide.
The Donkey Sanctuary supports projects to relieve the suffering of donkeys in 29 countries worldwide, including sanctuaries across Europe, where more than 14,500 donkeys and mules have been cared for, and major projects in Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Kenya and Mexico, where donkey welfare is improved through community education and veterinary work.
Any donation, no matter how small, is gratefully received by The Donkey Sanctuary and one of the best ways to support the charity into the future is to give regularly by direct debit.
For further information telephone: 01395 578222, view www.thedonkeysanctuary.org.uk or visit the charity’s headquarters near Sidmouth in Devon (open 365 days/free admission).
SAWA
The Refuge for old donkeys and mules operates in a joint effort of SAWA and the Municipality of Santorini.
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♥ My pictures come from my life so they all have great meaning to me. ::: CLICK HERE ::: to learn more about my life adventure.
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