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Equine veterinary journal2020; 53(2); 324-330; doi: 10.1111/evj.13310

Demography, preventative healthcare and reason for relinquishment of donkeys to an equine charity in the UK (2013-2015).

Abstract: In the UK, there are thousands of donkeys being cared for by charities; however, little is known about the reasons for relinquishment or their previous health status, with even less information available in published literature. Such information could help to identify factors contributing to poor equine welfare and guide the development of appropriate educational resources. Objective: To describe the characteristics of the relinquished donkeys and to better understand the current preventative healthcare status of donkeys relinquished into The Donkey Sanctuary. Methods: Cross-sectional observational survey. Methods: A total of 596 donkeys were admitted during a 30-month period. Each had a health check at arrival; and previous management information was provided by the owner. Data were retrieved from The Donkey Sanctuary database, inputted into a specific Microsoft Access 2016 database then exported for analysis in IBM SPSS 19.0 for Windows . Mules and ponies were excluded from the study. Results: Many donkeys arrived without a valid passport (32.3%) or microchip (49.7%). Only 23.2% were fully protected against influenza and tetanus and 21.0% of the donkeys had no previous anthelmintic treatment history. Geriatric donkeys often suffered from moderate to severe dental disease in need of advanced treatment, and 43.9% had received no dental treatment within the last year. Overall 26.3% of donkeys were classed as overweight and 8.6% were obese. The median time since the last hoof trim was 10 weeks. Conclusions: The health status of the studied donkeys may have been affected by the reasons for relinquishment, and associations require further investigation. Conclusions: This study highlights the need for improving preventative healthcare in donkeys to ensure better welfare within the population.
© 2020 EVJ Ltd.
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Publication Date: 2020-07-08 PubMed ID: 32542888DOI: 10.1111/evj.13310Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

This research article explores the reasons behind the surrender of donkeys to an equine charity in the UK between 2013 and 2015 by examining the donkeys’ health status and preventative healthcare prior to their relinquishment. The study suggests that improving preventative healthcare for donkeys could lead to enhanced welfare for the animals in the UK.

Research Background and Objective

  • This study builds on limited existing knowledge regarding the relinquishment of donkeys to equine charities in the UK. Especial concern was given to understanding the animals’ health status prior to their surrender, which could shed light on the causes of poor equine welfare.
  • The primary objective was to profile the relinquished donkeys, helping to understand their preventative healthcare status when received by The Donkey Sanctuary.
  • The insights thus gained could be instrumental in developing educational resources to improve equine welfare.

Methodology

  • The researchers conducted a cross-sectional observational survey within a 30-month period where they examined 596 donkeys. Mules and ponies were excluded from the study.
  • Each donkey received a health check upon arrival at the Sanctuary, and the previous owner provided information about the animals’ earlier management. This data was then collected from the Sanctuary’s database and meticulously analysed.

Findings

  • A significant number of donkeys did not have a valid passport (32.3%) or microchip (49.7%) on arrival.
  • Only a minority were fully protected against diseases like influenza and tetanus (23.2%) and a similar proportion had no previous history of anthelmintic treatment (21.0%), which is used to target parasitic worms.
  • Nearly half (43.9%) of the older donkeys showed moderate to severe dental issues requiring advanced treatment, with no reported dental treatment received in the last year.
  • Concerning weight, 26.3% of the donkeys were overweight and 8.6% were obese.
  • On average, the last hoof trim had taken place 10 weeks prior to their admission to the sanctuary.

Conclusions

  • The study indicates that the reasons for donkey relinquishment may be closely tied to their health status, suggesting that poor preventative healthcare could be a significant factor in these cases.
  • The research strongly emphasizes the need for enhancing preventative healthcare initiatives for donkeys in the UK, as this can substantially improve their welfare status.

Cite This Article

APA
Fernandez EB, De Blas Giral I, Thiemann AK, Vázquez Bringas FJ. (2020). Demography, preventative healthcare and reason for relinquishment of donkeys to an equine charity in the UK (2013-2015). Equine Vet J, 53(2), 324-330. https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.13310

Publication

Equine veterinary journal
ISSN: 2042-3306
NlmUniqueID: 0173320
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 53
Issue: 2
Pages: 324-330

Researcher Affiliations

Fernandez, Elena Barrio
  • The Donkey Sanctuary, Sidmouth, Devon, UK.
De Blas Giral, Ignacio
  • Animal Pathology Department, Zaragoza University, Zaragoza, Spain.
Thiemann, Alex K
  • The Donkey Sanctuary, Sidmouth, Devon, UK.
Vázquez Bringas, F J
  • Animal Pathology Department, Zaragoza University, Zaragoza, Spain.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Charities
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Delivery of Health Care
  • Demography
  • Equidae
  • Horses
  • United Kingdom

Grant Funding

  • The Donkey Sanctuary

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Citations

This article has been cited 5 times.
  1. Furtado T, King M, Perkins E, McGowan C, Chubbock S, Hannelly E, Rogers J, Pinchbeck G. An Exploration of Environmentally Sustainable Practices Associated with Alternative Grazing Management System Use for Horses, Ponies, Donkeys and Mules in the UK. Animals (Basel) 2022 Jan 8;12(2).
    doi: 10.3390/ani12020151pubmed: 35049774google scholar: lookup
  2. Deng L, Shi S, Li J, Tang C, Han Y, Xie P. A Survey of Smallholder Farms Regarding Demographics, Health Care, and Management Factors of Donkeys in Northeastern China. Front Vet Sci 2021;8:626622.
    doi: 10.3389/fvets.2021.626622pubmed: 33937368google scholar: lookup
  3. Ullah A, Khan MZ, Wang C. Overview of Donkey Welfare and Husbandry Practices in Asia. Animals (Basel) 2025 Dec 1;15(23).
    doi: 10.3390/ani15233464pubmed: 41375522google scholar: lookup
  4. Fitts J, Kubasiewicz LM, Norris SL, Worth S, Watson T, Angell RL, Steer MD, Lintott P. Pasture Heterogeneity Improves Donkey Welfare: Effects of Structural Variation, Species Diversity, and Sward Height on Herd Emotional States. Animals (Basel) 2025 Nov 27;15(23).
    doi: 10.3390/ani15233421pubmed: 41375479google scholar: lookup
  5. Bielby J, McMillan K, Davies G. It's not fur: newspaper article reporting of abandonment and relinquishment of pets exhibit taxonomic biases in framing and language use. R Soc Open Sci 2025 Jul;12(7):241958.
    doi: 10.1098/rsos.241958pubmed: 40740710google scholar: lookup
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