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Abandoned donkeys rescued by Donkey Sanctuary
Darcy's hooves were uncared for, and Kallie was suffering from a leg wound.
The two donkeys were found roaming in Suffolk.

Two donkeys, found abandoned and roaming in a field in Suffolk, have been rescued and taken for veterinary care by the Donkey Sanctuary.

Kallie and Darcy, aged seven and six, were reported to the Donkey Sanctuary in August after being seen roaming around a large field.

When donkey welfare advisers Jess Bush and Mark Kerr arrived on the scene the donkeys appeared nervous, and it was unclear whether they had been handled. The grass in the field was very long, so they could not assess the condition of their hooves from a distance.

Due to the size of the field, approximately 20 acres, it was challenging for the rescuers to get close enough to make contact with the donkeys. There was also no hardstanding or shelter where they would be able to handle them.

The grass in the field was lush, which raised the welfare adviser’s concerns about the donkeys’ diets. Dietary problems from too much sugary grass, including obesity, can lead to laminitis, a painful condition affecting hooves.

Under the Control of Horses Act 2015, the landowner had to try and locate the owners of the donkeys before the Donkey Sanctuary could act. After no owners were find, the landowner had the legal right to make arrangements for the donkeys’ welfare.

After the donkeys were moved to a smaller field, donkey welfare advisers were able to examine them more closely.

Both the donkeys’ feet were found to be extremely overgrown. Darcy’s hooves were chipped and cracked, with her front hooves curling at the toe, while Kallie had a wound on her leg which put her at risk of fly strike.

The donkeys remained nervous, so the Donkey Sanctuary partnered with World Horse Welfare to utilise specialist equine handling pens to manage them.

With World Horse Welfare’s support, the Donkey Sanctuary was able to handle the donkeys in a smaller space, before moving them to a holding base for further treatment. They are now comfortable on their feet and much healthier, but still wary around humans.

Jess Bush, the donkey welfare adviser who was first on the scene, said: “I recently saw Kallie and Darcy and it was amazing to see how far they have come thanks to the dedication and care provided by their grooms.

“I hope they continue to lead a happy, healthy life – either in a loving Donkey Guardian home or at one of our sanctuary farms.”

Image © Shutterstock

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BEVA gives RVNs right to vote

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 The British Equine Veterinary Association (BEVA) is to allow its registered veterinary nurse (RVN) members the right to vote.

RVN members will now be able to take part in key decision-making processes and stand for BEVA council.

Marie Rippingale, chair of BEVA's Nurse Committee, said: "I am very proud to be a part of BEVA.

"This change will help to empower nurses to speak up and contribute, but more importantly, it will give them an opportunity to collaborate with other members of the equine veterinary profession to bring about change that is positive for all." 

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Farmer survey to reveal on-farm impact of bluetongue

A nationwide survey has been launched to better understand how the bluetongue virus is affecting UK farms.

Results will inform the support that farmers receive for bluetongue, as well as preparing the livestock industry for the future.

The short online survey is open to all livestock farmers, regardless of whether they've had a confirmed case of bluetongue on their farm. It asks how many animals have been affected, the severity of their clinical signs and how it has impacted farm business.

The survey takes five minutes to complete and is fully anonymous.

It is led by Fiona Lovatt, of Flock Health Limited, and the Ruminant Health & Welfare bluetongue working group, in collaboration with AHDB and the University of Nottingham.

Dr Lovatt says: "We need to find out what level of clinical signs farmers are seeing in their animals, whether they are experiencing mortality with BTV-3 cases, and what their appetite is to vaccinate in future for bluetongue serotype 3."

The survey can be found here.