Patrons: Barbara & Bill McGillivray
Are Donkeys Sad?
Many people who visit F.F.S.F.D ask "Are there different breeds of donkeys?" because the donkeys they have seen, whether they have seen donkeys giving rides at fetes, on the beach, or just in a field look very sad compared to the donkeys at the sanctuary. The answer to the question is "No", donkeys are donkeys, their only difference is in height and conformation (i.e.: whether they are small, fat, thin or different colours).
Donkeys are very intelligent, sensitive creatures. The donkeys who have come to the sanctuary, despite some of them having suffered physical abuse, every donkey appears to have suffered mentally.
When a donkey arrives at the sanctuary, after it's quarantine period, and even during this period, depending on the donkey, very often they will stand as if they are in deep thought, and looking sad. This experience has happened to all the donkeys which have come into our care. It takes time for each donkey to adjust and may vary from just a few months up to a year.
Firstly, I think that each donkey is unable to believe the attention received, i.e.. the basics such as a clean bed with hay and a feed in the evening which comfort I am sure they would not have known before, This I feel is one of many reasons why they go into this deep thinking process when they initially arrive at the sanctuary. I feel another reason is that each donkey may be worried that their stay at the Sanctuary may just be short term. They wonder whether they will be sold on again (whether privately or for market), and whether they will be taken away from their friends, old and new. These are quite traumatic times for each donkey.
Many donkeys you see at sale yards have had enough of being taken to one market after another. They may well have had a long journey from perhaps Spain or Ireland. If travelling from Ireland, for example, they would start their journey from in the south, are transported up to Northern Ireland , then down to a dealer in the south of England before being banded from market to market. As you can imagine, the mental trauma for these donkeys must be horrific.
At the Sanctuary when each donkey arrives Bach Flowers Rescue Remedy is put into their water to help them adjust to their new home. Also, when donkeys are just dosing, very often they will stand with their heads down, ears laying back and their bottom lip completely relaxed to the point that it just flops.
I know you will probably now ask "How do you know that each donkey has changed?", I think part of the answer to this question is that it comes with a lot of experience and observation with donkeys over the last 21 years. The donkeys do change in mannerisms and expression, their eyes are brighter, they look more contented with life. They don't stand in the corner in deep thought over past events in their lives, or contemplating worries over their future but instead are always playing games!!.