She was the loneliest donkey of our Rifugio. You could spot Arianna always in the same place, at the bottom of the fence, stuck to the farther corner. It was rare to see her close to other donkeys and the few times she played, it was with Agostino or Poldo, two other lonely guys: maybe their connection was for this affinity, or for their pasts, which had left invisible yet always open scars.

We really hoped that we would have been able to heal them, but... Arianna, what a terrible joke you did.

Today, 4 October, it's World Animal Day: please turn on a light to keep the donkeys safe and warm during the cold season.

Your donations collected today will allow us to keep the infrared lamps on during next months (in the last days we have already waken up with a temperature just a few degrees above 0) and to keep the donkeys safe and warm, with a greaf relief for all them, expecially our elderly ones and those ill or weak.

Will you help to keep the lights on? Please consider making a donation today.

It is impossible not to notice him in Rufus group: with his cropped ears, Obama, a lovely brown donkey rescued in Romania when he was a few months old, is really unique and unforgettable. Many visitors, after meeting him here at our Rifugio, has asked us more about him, fearing he was the victim of human violence.

Actually, his peculiarity is not a consequence of mistreatment: both his ears were amputated by our vet to avoid that sarcoids (skin tumors very common among donkeys) could spread all over his body.

From Val d'Aosta to Calabria: our re-homing scheme extends to all Italian regions (Sicily and Sardinia excluded), to allow a growing number of donkeys to be welcomed into their new families.

Yesterday Marcus, Marius, Giorgio, Alex, Garibaldi, Coconut, Sheila, Camilla, Mario and Bello left Sala Biellese towards Abruzzo: they will live in a small detached house (not open to the public) where there are already ten donkeys that we saved from Colleferro. From there they will be ready to reach their new families for life in the Center and in Southern Italy.

On August 16th, the Revenue Agency has credited the amount of 5X1000 2016 (referring to the incomes of 2015): 74,532.14 Euros, the result of the choices of 2287 of you, for us a tangible and very important proof of the trust you have in our work for donkeys.

The sum will allow us to buy food and bedding for all our guests.

Thank you so much!