A pair of donkeys rescued with overgrown hooves and weight issues are now thriving in a loving Guardian home in west Wales.
Paddy, 10, and Jenny, five, were discovered in a field in Worcestershire, along four other donkeys, who were all underweight and had overgrown hooves.
The group, whose rescue we carried out back in 2020, lived in a field, with a shelter containing bedding covered with mud and faeces and hay long past its best.
With their basic needs not being met, Paddy and Jenny were rescued along with their companions and transported to a local holding base, where they began their recovery.
After a much-needed hoof trim, and the introduction of a nutritious balanced diet, Paddy and Jenny’s condition markedly improved.
With their confidence blooming, and their true characters finally showing, the pair were deemed eligible for a loving Donkey Guardian home via our rehoming scheme.
Our Donkey Welfare Adviser Katana Ashby says: “It was clear to me that Paddy and Jenny would have no issue finding a loving Guardian home.
“Paddy is a very calm donkey, who takes everything in his stride – so I knew he would be able to embrace new sights and sounds at a Guardian home with quiet confidence.
“Jenny enjoys human interaction – she always approaches people and enjoys having her head held and having her ears scratched.
“She is such a lively donkey, and very curious. She’ll always stick her soft nose into goings-on around her!”
The process to rehome Paddy and Jenny didn’t go as smoothly as planned – with Paddy failing his medical examinations due a respiratory issue.
Every time he was checked over by a vet, his breathing began to get very heavy. But an investigation into his respiratory change revealed it was purely a physiological nervous response.
With a patient approach and increased regular veterinary visits, Paddy soon became comfortable with the vet’s presence, and calmly breezed through his final medical examination with flying colours.
The pair then made to the move to west Wales last year, where first-time Guardians Kay and Mick awaited.
Katana says: “We suggested Paddy and Jenny as ideal rehoming donkeys to Kay and Mick because they were so easily handled at the holding base.
“Thankfully, both donkeys have settled really well and the home loves them! They now have a permanent place to call home, and they have responded to their new daily routine nicely.
“Both donkeys are thriving, and enjoy having that special one-to-one time with their Guardians.
“Because they’re really social donkeys, they have had a wonderful time exploring their new home, which also contains a wild campsite.
“This means there are always new people and other four-legged friends to greet over the fence!”
Paddy and Jenny’s journey is just one of happy conclusions that have come from the Worcestershire rescue.
Two of their four companions, Daisy and Daphne, have also made the move to a loving Guardian home, while their other two companions both had foals after their rescue.
Last year, Gracie had her foal Toby in March while Rachel welcomed her foal at our Paccombe Farm site.
