Giving Hope to the Most in Need- Starting Over- Israel
Our Sanctuary Secrets: How We Group Our Donkeys!
Many of you still haven't had the chance to visit us, and until you do, we wanted to answer a question that frequently comes up: How do we determine the grouping (herds) for our donkeys, and why?
Our sanctuary is home to nearly 800 rescued donkeys, all of whom have endured abuse, exploitation, and neglect. Here, at the sanctuary, they undergo extensive physical and mental rehabilitation.
We are proud to say that we have successfully rehabilitated a great majority of them! Hundreds now live in large, communal enclosures in big herds at our sanctuary.
In what physical and mental state do donkeys arrive at our Sanctuary?
Donkeys arrive in different states:
Some are elderly or too weak and thin, and some males need to be neutered.
We receive orphaned foals and additionally many of the jennies (female donkeys) arrive pregnant. Others come with severe injuries: disabled, missing a hoof or leg, blind, or with chronic conditions requiring lifelong care.
For this reason, each herd has an enclosure specifically tailored to the donkeys’ individual needs, considering feeding stations, diet, and their required level of medical and physical/mental care.
Yael, our medical team's leader, provides loving care as only she knows how.
Spotlight on "Hope Haven"
This time, we especially wanted to tell you about one unique area at our sanctuary: The Hope Haven.
This vital section is located right next to our medical team. It currently houses over 50 donkeys who have been through too much to fully recover. These animals include those who are blind, suffer from chronic disabilities (especially in the back or legs), or have lost a hoof or leg, often as a result of ropes tied to their limbs causing necrosis.
These donkeys are not necessarily old, but most will require lifelong, intensive, and constant care: ongoing pain management, specialized diets, custom silicone horseshoes, bandaging, and topical treatments.
While the majority will remain residents of Hope Haven, we are thrilled that some do manage to recover enough, sometimes after more than a year of treatment, to transition, physically and mentally, into one of our rehabilitated adult herds!
💖 Our Lifeline: Partnering with Animal Aid Abroad 🌍
We are incredibly fortunate to have the support of an amazing organization that helps "working" animals all over the world: Animal Aid Abroad (AAA). They are a true lifeline, especially in the operation of our dedicated rehabilitation center, The Hope Compound.
Nearly two years ago, AAA reached out to us completely unsolicited. They recognized our urgent need for support to continue rehabilitating and caring for our donkeys, and they immediately committed to funding and supporting the residents of The Hope Haven.
As you already understood, the donkeys in that compound are the most vulnerable: those who are blind, disabled, or have suffered severe injuries like amputated legs or hooves due to ropes tied tightly around them.
The commitment from Animal Aid Abroad covers the vital, often continuous, medical care these donkeys require: Essential treatments like custom, highly expensive silicone horseshoes for donkeys who carried excessive weight, resulting in damaged tendons and improper hoof placement, and also preventative care: ensuring they receive all necessary vaccinations and deworming treatments.
Animal Aid Abroad's support is the reason we can afford to provide the specialised, long-term care these brave animals need to heal and have a second chance at life. We are eternally grateful for their dedication to our most vulnerable donkeys.
Please visit AAA website and see for yourself their amazing and all-important work.