A pair of donkeys who lost their companions in separate Guardian homes have formed a new bonded friendship at The Donkey Sanctuary – a bond they will take to their forever home on one of our East Devon farms.

Mocha, 19, lived in a wonderful Guardian home in South Wales with his friend Baby. Due to a change in their owner’s circumstances, we started to make arrangements for the donkeys to be returned into our care.

But while the returning process was underway Baby, 27, suddenly became very ill, and sadly vets had to make the decision to put him to sleep. Without his companion Mocha was left alone, but as he was now grieving, he needed time before being moved back to the sanctuary.

When the vet came back to carry out routine checks and make sure he was fit to travel to the sanctuary, they discovered Mocha had a high temperature and was off his food. It was an extremely worrying time as his lack of appetite could link to hyperlipaemia, a condition that can be fatal in donkeys and can be made worse by stress.

Fortunately, with lots of care and attention from his owner, Mocha improved after just a few weeks, and after further veterinary checks, was deemed fit enough to travel to the sanctuary.

Meanwhile, Stanley, also 19, had lived in a loving Cornish home with his companion Wilfred all their lives. Sadly, a change in circumstances meant that the two donkeys had to be rehomed. Their owner contacted The Donkey Sanctuary in the hope that a safe forever home could be found.

As the relinquishment process began, Wilfred’s health took a turn for the worst. His owner immediately called the vet, who diagnosed he was suffering from liver disease. Unfortunately, his condition deteriorated quickly, and the vet concluded that the kindest decision was to put him to sleep.

After losing his companion, Stanley began to show signs of stress-related laminitis, an inflammation of the soft tissue structure inside the hoof, so there was a great urgency to move him into the care of the sanctuary.

Since arriving in our care at our New Arrivals Unit in Sidmouth, Devon the two donkeys began to form a friendship together. Over the weeks grooms have watched this develop into a true bond, with Mocha becoming very protective over Stanley.

The pair have now moved just a short distance to Woods Farm with two other donkeys called Jesus and Arthur.

Mocha and Stanley have experienced a similar journey after losing their long-term bonded companions, but as they settle into their new home together, their friendship is strong and their future looks bright with their new herd at Woods Farm.