A group of donkeys in Somerset had to be rescued by The Donkey Sanctuary after a nearby river burst its banks and flooded the small holding where they lived.
Mimi, Martha, Mabel, Aida, Pippin and Lily-Mae were unable to avoid the cascade of water flowing into their field in Wells and were forced to huddle on a small clearing which hadn’t yet become submerged by floodwater.
The flooding occurred as a result of Storm Chandra which hit the UK at the end of January. The donkeys’ owner contacted Somerset County Council for help and they notified The Donkey Sanctuary.
‘Heartbreaking’
“In my 14 years working within the animal welfare sector, I hadn’t seen flooding like it. I would estimate that the site was 95 percent underwater,” said senior donkey advisor Sarah Kenward who attended the scene.
“It was heartbreaking to witness the animals surrounded by water, with no means of escaping their situation.
“The constant rain had caused the donkeys’ stable area to flood; their bedding was floating on top of the water, and the only hardstanding the donkeys could access was near one trailer, with the stormy conditions bringing a tree down on another trailer.”
Contingency plan
Extra forage had been provided for the donkeys but they had continued to lose weight making them vulnerable to the cold wet weather conditions.
April, one of the older donkeys, was in poor condition and it was decided that it was in her best interest to be put to sleep.
“Understanding the risks and developing a contingency plan based on your own circumstances will help in times when urgent action is needed,” added Sarah.
“Our Donkey Advice Centre and regionally based Donkey Welfare Advisers are able to provide friendly, practical advice and guidance to owners throughout Great Britain.”
New home
With more wet weather forecast and a fuller understanding of the longer-term needs of the donkeys, it was agreed for the group to come into the care of The Donkey Sanctuary.
Once they been deemed fit to travel by Jamie Forrest, the charity’s lead veterinary surgeon who attended the scene with Sarah, the donkeys were loaded onto transporter vehicles and driven to The Donkey Sanctuary’s New Arrivals Unit in Sidmouth, Devon.
The donkeys are thriving in their new home and have had their hooves trimmed and been wormed. In the coming weeks they will have dental treatment and vaccinations.
They have also been introduced to straw feed and have a comprehensive balancer to ensure they have the vitamins and minerals they need to improve their condition.
“The whole situation was incredibly sad but thanks to our amazing teams, it was so rewarding to bring the donkeys to the sanctuary, to safety, and help them on their journey to find new forever home,” said Sarah.
Images © The Donkey Sanctuary.
