They are here! 2018 wall and desk calendars are here for you. You can find them here at our Rifugio or contact us to get shipping quotes. If you live in Italy, you can order directly through our brand new e-shop.
One of the most heartwarming stories this year was gentle giant Ardito's rescue: now we want to share with you 5 lessons we've learnt from him and that we will treasure in 2017.
Can you hear this bray? It comes from Viola, Ardito, Vincenzino and all the 146 donkeys living at our Rifugio degli Asinelli: all of them want to thank you for your support and wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
With your help, during these last 12 months we have been able to grant the best lives ever to our residents (and to welcome 8 more donkeys in desperate need); we supported 226 donkeys all over Italy and found new homes for 30 donkeys.
Comptesse is one of our granny-donkeys: white, elegant, sweet, she knows how to enter the heart of every visitor.
Last week, during our daily checks, the grooms at farm realized that something was wrong with her. Even Coquette, her dearest friend, was clearly worried about.
Our vet arrived promptly and confirmed what we thought: Comptesse was suffering from a bad intestinal blockage, even more dangerous considering her age (she is 26).
First snow of the season this morning at our Rifugio!
Some prefer to watch it from the warm stable, some keep on eating, some - like our big horse Sogno, the oldest guest at our shelter, enjoys it until the very last snowflake!
Dear donkeyt friends, for 2017 our calendar doubles and is available in 2 sizes: wall calendar and desk calendar.
But it's not only size which changes: pictures are different too, with 24 unpublished shots (12 in each kind, plus covers) by Rachele Totaro.
If you're interested in purchasing your copy, please contact us to get a shipping quote (we can ship Worldwide).
All the funds raised will be used for our donkeys' care, so a huge thank you from them too!
Dear friends, we are sure that you remember little Viola: the lovely, tiny filly rejected by her mother at birth and that we rescued last September.
The time is now for coordinated action to make improved welfare a reality for working equids across the world - that is the message of four equine charities who have come together to promote global welfare standards adopted this year by the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE).
As often happens, it all started with a phone call: last week one of our supporters called il Rifugio, concerned about her old neighbours' donkey. For months she hadn't seen him outside his tiny stable; she knows the donkey's still alive only because sometimes she hears him braying for loneliness and despair.
Fabrizio, our welfare officer, contacts the owner: the wife explains that her husband can not longer take care of the donkey.
Dear friends, since today (23 November) and to 7 December, our Rifugio will be closed to public.
Besides bad weather, we are treating our donkeys for lices; closing and avoiding contacts is very important to prevent widespreading.
These lices are NOT dangerous for humans, but without an adequate protection we could be accidental carriers and bring lices to area which have not been involved.
We'll keep you updated about treatments and re-opening.
Thanks for understanding.
