If you purchased or received an Incontrasino voucher this year, we are sorry to inform you that, given the temporary closure of the Rifugio to the public, we are not able to carry out the Incontrasino experience for the whole of 2020.
Next Tuesday 14 July, at 10:00 am, The Donkey Sanctuary will participate to the meeting of the Intergroup of the European Parliament on the Welfare and Conservation of Animals.
The meeting, dedicated to the consequences of the Covid-19 emergency on the welfare of horses, is part of a wider cycle of meetings on the role of the Third Sector in the context of the economic and health crisis.
Due to the current global pandemic, The Donkey Sanctuary and World Horse Welfare will be hosting their first virtual side event at this year’s United Nations High Level Political Forum (HLPF) on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). On Tuesday 7 July, stakeholders will be able to take part in discussions about the essential role working animals play in achieving key SDGs, and their context within two of the globe’s most pressing challenges: climate change and disease.
This story only needs one name. Bianca, an invented name, is a woman with a history of psychological suffering who managed to find a new life at the Rifugio thanks to the contact with donkeys.
Our online store has reopened
You can find our gadgets here: https://store.ilrifugiodegliasinelli.org/
Please bear in mind that the current limitations due to the Covid-19 emergency may delay the delivery of your order.
In January 2019, the Rifugio degli Asinelli was involved in one of the largest seizures of equidae in recent years. In the province of Alessandria, over 40 donkeys were found in a state of neglect and in poor health. Immediately involved in operations related to animal welfare, we launched this appeal:
"Over 40 donkeys urgently need us: we are looking for caretakers willing to host them and help them start a new life."
Taddeo is 19 years old, and he is a beautiful all white donkey. He has a difficult past. Taddeo as well comes from the big seizure of Colleferro in 2013, the largest seizure of equidae that ever occurred in Italy. He arrives at the Rifugio in that year and, like many of his companions, he bears the suffering he has suffered in his body and soul. His character is harsh and diffident, Taddeo has never met a veterinarian, nobody has ever taken care of his hooves and hair. When we tried to approach him, he kicked nervously.
Mimì and Rucola were born at the Refuge a few years ago. They are two young donkeys, who have not known the suffering and uncertainty of many of our other guests (read the story of Dante and Margherita here). Yet even if born in a protected context, their mothers come from complicated backgrounds. Giorgina, Mimì's mother, arrived at the Rifugio from Veneto and was so undernourished that we didn't realize that she was pregnant. Surprisingly, we watched her belly grow in the weeks following her arrival at the Rifugio. Mimì was born in 2016.
What do donkeys need at Christmas? Here we answer a few of your questions.
A donkey's coat is not waterproof, so while a donkey may stand outside while it's raining or even snowing, they would rarely choose to do so for long periods, so it is really important that they have access to appropriate shelter.
If we were to give a prize to the two most playful donkeys of the Rifugio, the winners would undoubtedly be Zenzero and Mirtillo.
