Il Rifugio degli Asinelli O.N.L.U.S.

An original way to celebrate Mother's Day: on Sunday 13th May, everyone who wish to make a solidal gift, spend some time with their own mums and make il Rifugio more beautiful ever, is invited to come and visit us from 3 pm. "Please take a flower with you" explains General Manager Barbara Massa "in order to plant it around the hill". Roses, brooms and bulbs are welcome - and please take a squadron with you as well!

Second Grooming Day of the year at “Il Rifugio degli Asinelli ONLUS” (via per Zubiena, 62 - Sala Biellese, BI): on May the 1st, 2 pm-6.30 pm, all animal lovers will be able to know more about donkeys and their daily care, called "grooming".

The number of races involving donkeys in Italy is huge. According to our information, there are about 100 traditional races spread all over Italy, but there could possibly be more.

Il Rifugio cannot afford to trace and gather information about all these races. For this reason we are asking for your help.
At the same time,Italian Horse Protection is launching the same campaign, gathering information about traditional horse races.this is the link: http://www.horseprotection.it/dett_articolo.asp?id_a=430

If you live and work in Italy, you can donate your 5 per Mille to Il Rifugio without any cost for you: it's enough to sign the proper box in your income declaration (Mod. 730, Cud or Modello Unico) and write our fiscal code 02270470020.

Fondazione “Il Rifugio degli Asinelli ONLUS” invites all supporters and animal lovers to join the first Grooming Day of the year: on Sunday 25th March, from 2 to 5 pm, in via per Zubiena, 62 Sala Biellese (BI), visitors will be able to learn how to take care of donkeys and have a close meeting with them.

“If you love donkeys, you cannot miss Grooming Days” explains Barbara Massa, General Manager of Il Rifugio. “During these special events, our staff show to participants how to groom and cuddle donkeys properly".

It is with a heavy heart that we have to inform you that Pufulet, one of the most beloved donkeys homed at Il Rifugio degli Asinelli and among the symbols of our Adoption Scheme, was put to sleep due to deterioration of his health. For more than a year, Pufulet was under therapy for sarcoids (skin tumours).

Weeks of new arrivals at Il Rifugio: we have homed four donkeys with similar past stories. After lives of love, their previous owners were not able to take care of them, so they looked for a new home.
That's how came to Il Rifugio Mario and Amy, from Vercelli province, followed by Piccola and Stellina, from Iseo Lake (see picture).

PRESS RELEASE from The Donkey Sanctuary
21 February 2012

This morning a donkey has once again endured cruelty at the hands of drunken crowds at a traditional Spanish festival, international animal welfare charity The Donkey Sanctuary has witnessed.

On Shrove Tuesday every year the village of Villanueva de la Vera hosts the carnival of Peropalo, where it is traditional for a donkey to be pulled through the very narrow cobbled streets of the village, ridden by an intoxicated rider and surrounded by a large crowd, some of whom fire shotguns. It is an extremely frightening experience for the animal, and one which The Donkey Sanctuary has been campaigning against for 25 years.

Dear supporters,
we are happy to inform you that since Sunday 19th February Il Rifugio has been opened to public again after a stop for snow and ice.
You can come and visit us every day from 10 am to 5 pm. Don't miss this chance!