A donkey described as “terrified” after being abandoned overnight is one of five animals dumped outside a sanctuary within a five-week period.
Barnhill Donkeys Retreat, based in Sleagill near Penrith in Cumbria, discovered the female donkey in the early hours of Friday. The animal has been named Hope by sanctuary owner Linda Gilbert, who said the donkey had shown small signs of recovery after five days of care, becoming less “shutdown”.
Ms Gilbert said some people buy donkeys as Christmas gifts before realising the level of care required. She said fear of prosecution for neglect can then lead to animals being abandoned. The recent cases highlight the ongoing issue of donkeys dumped at sanctuary sites in Cumbria.
Hope was found hiding in bushes close to the retreat during the night. Ms Gilbert said the donkey was extremely frightened when she arrived and remained fearful during her first days at the sanctuary.
In recent weeks, another donkey was also left outside the retreat. Ms Gilbert said the animal had an eye injury but was otherwise unharmed.
“We managed to get her off the road at four in the morning,” she said.
“She had an injury to her eye but we have great vets who had a look and she was terrified but totally fine.”
Ms Gilbert raised concerns about the dangers of abandoning donkeys in remote locations, particularly on narrow roads used by heavy vehicles. She said the risk extended to both the animals and passing motorists.
“I don’t think it’s good to dump a donkey before it dies. We are on a single-track road and a milk tanker goes up it in the morning.
“If there’s a donkey in the middle of nowhere in the pitch black that jumps out at drivers, it’s going to go through the windscreen or end up under the wheels.
“It is going to get killed or someone is going to get killed or injured.”
The sanctuary owner said that nursing abandoned animals back to health can take many months. Each donkey must recover physically and emotionally before being considered for rehoming with a vetted owner.
Hope initially reacted with fear to everyday sights and sounds. For several days, she ran away even from hens in the sanctuary grounds.
Ms Gilbert said the donkey is now showing signs of improvement.
“She’s snuggling with people and she lay down in straw earlier and her face was pure joy,” she said.
It is hoped that a suitable new home will eventually be found for Hope, who Ms Gilbert described as an “amazing” donkey.
