You are hereStay informed / Press releases

Press releases

Colleferro donkeys safely home at last

PRESS RELEASE from The Donkey Sanctuary - 20th February 2013

Late last night 16 donkeys and 5 mules arrived at The Donkey Sanctuary’s main Italian rescue centre at Sala Biellese, near Turin. The donkeys were recently rescued from appalling conditions by the charity, from an Italian equine trader in Colleferro, Italy.

Mother's Day: donate a flower to the donkeys!

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!

Shotguns and surging crowds for the Shrove Tuesday donkey

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.

Involvement of donkeys in the Kenya-Somalia conflict

“International animal welfare charity The Donkey Sanctuary is saddened to hear that once again donkeys appear to have been caught up in human conflict. The charity’s team in Kenya has learned of reports which indicate that donkeys are being sold to the Islamic militants Al Shabaab for carrying weapons, and fear that this could result in them being targeted by the Kenyan military.

The Donkey Sanctuary announces the tragic loss of its Founder, Dr Elisabeth Svendsen MBE

It is with deep sorrow that international animal welfare charity The Donkey Sanctuary, and its sister charity the Elisabeth Svendsen Trust for Children and Donkeys, today announces the death of its founder, Dr Elisabeth Svendsen MBE.

Dr Svendsen founded the charity in 1969 out of her deep love and compassion for abused, neglected and abandoned donkeys everywhere, after finding seven donkeys in a terribly poor state crammed in a small pen at Exeter market. She tried to buy the donkey in the worst condition, without success, and from that moment on, decided that she would dedicate her life to saving donkeys in distress.

On 1st May, Grooming Day at Il Rifugio for a closer meeting with the donkeys

Fondazione “Il Rifugio degli Asinelli ONLUS” is pleased to invite all animal lovers to spend 1st May at our shelter. On Sunday 1st May, from 2.30 to 5.30 pm, in via Zubiena, 62 in Sala Biellese (Bi, Italy) Grooming Day will take place. This event will allow all visitors to test a closer meeting with donkeys and to learn something more about their daily care.

On the 20th of March we will welcome uncoming Spring with a special Grooming Day

Charity "Il Rifugio degli Asinelli ONLUS” invites all animal lovers to the first Grooming Day of 2011: Sunday 20th March, from 2.30 p.m. to 4.30 p.m., in via per Zubiena, 62 in Sala Biellese (BI), our supporters will be able to celebrate Spring with over 100 donkeys homed at our centre.

Another donkey suffers for tradition

PRESS RELEASE from The Donkey Sanctuary, 8 March 2011

International animal welfare charity The Donkey Sanctuary is saddened to report that today a donkey has once again been forced to endure torment and abuse in the carnival of Peropalo in the Spanish village of Villanueva de la Vera.
In spite of the many people who petitioned against the festival, and the efforts of The Donkey Sanctuary and other welfare organisations in Spain, Extremadura authorities have, yet again, turned a blind eye to the carnival and the suffering of a defenceless donkey.

Parasailing donkey stunt sparks police inquiry

The following statement has been produced by The Donkey Sanctuary in response to the press coverage surrounding donkey cruelty in Russia.

New WikiVet donkey section launched

21st May 2010, 12.00pm. News Release issued by The Donkey Sanctuary’s Press Office

From May 2010, vets, veterinary nurses and students will have access to a new source of accurate, regularly reviewed, practical and research-led information about donkeys thanks to a new section of the WikiVet website sponsored by the Sidmouth-based Donkey Sanctuary.