When the rains come in Israel, fresh new grass begins to pop up on the sides of the road, enticing the donkeys in the area to cross busy roads for a taste. This is what happened to a pregnant donkey near the Southern town of Be’er Sheva only days before she was due to give birth.
Luckily a witness called Animal Aid Abroad partner group Pegasus and advised them that many cars had nearly missed the donkey. It was a miracle she survived. Pegasus brought her to their sanctuary where she received a private, warm, and dry stall so that she could give birth calmly and safely.
That is exactly what happened! She gave birth to a beautiful, soft, bronze-colored foal and he has brought such a new and precious energy to the Pegasus sanctuary. He loves to follow his mother around, smelling all the new smells of life, listening to all the noises with his long ears, and suckling his mother’s milk. All this could have never happened if things had gone a little differently on the side of that road.
All of the donkeys at the sanctuary know when Sagiv, the hay deliverer does his morning rounds, and they wait patiently as he makes his way down the aisle of the large covered stable. This happens every day as another bundle is delivered. And every day it costs another 500 shekel, or almost 150 United States dollars.
The hay distributor comes loyally with his delivery because that’s what he is – loyal. He hasn’t received his payment yet for today’s bundles. And he’s still waiting for payment from the last delivery. The overwhelming cost of feeding all the rescued donkeys and horses has grown to be too much for the sanctuary.
It is the same story with the medical supplies required to treat injured and sick donkeys both outside and inside the sanctuary. Taking care of rescue donkeys and horses involves a lot of love and patience, and most of all, vet supplies. Like any other clinic or emergency room, Pegasus Sanctuary needs to be fully stocked with supplies to handle whatever problem they encounter.
Pegasus has many donkeys that are being nursed back to health who require daily, sometimes hourly, bandaging and attending to their wounds. With the diversity of wounds found throughout the equine rescue, the staff and medical supply must be ready for first aid and response. Bandages, creams, tapes, medications, anesthetics, hoof care, and gloves, are all involved in preventative and emergency care of the animals.
Animal Aid Abroad have recently sent funds to Pegasus Sanctuary to help with these costs, and we send thanks to all of our supporters who have contributed to not only helping to feed animals in need of care, but also helping those local suppliers support their own families. For more information and to learn how you can get involved, visit our website or Facebook page.
Featured image: A mother donkey and her foal. Image credit Carsten, CC BY-SA 3.0. All other images in this post taken at Pegasus Sanctuary and credited to Animal Aid Abroad/Pegasus Sanctuary.
