Miracle baby at Shropshire Donkey Rescue
When Lily the donkey first arrived at Shropshire Donkey Rescue back in November, she was in such a poor state that her survival was questionable. She could not walk and had to be helped to her feet by staff every morning and she was too weak to stand by herself. After intensive nursing and costly veterinary and farrier work, Lily’s health slowly began to improve. She was soon able to walk and gradually learnt to interact with the other donkeys – although she was somewhat slower walking up the field for her morning feed.
Staff at Shropshire Donkey Rescue became suspicious of her “situation” when she was becoming larger in the tummy, but not gaining weight elsewhere. Amanda Ball – Founder of Shropshire Donkey Rescue said “We thought we should get the vet to examine her again as we began to think she may be in foal, and we were all quite shocked when the vet confirmed she was expecting little one!” Donkeys are pregnant for between 11 and 13 months. “Given the state that Lily was in when she arrived, it wasn’t the best news we could have received. It is unbelievable that people would allow an animal in that condition to get in foal, and even more amazing still that Lily was able to sustain it”
It was a matter of a waiting game to see when Lily would foal, and after weeks of speculation the night finally came on Sunday 7th June. “I had checked on her about 10 pm and nothing appeared to be happening, so I went to bed. But then at midnight I was awoken by the sound of all the donkeys braying - and I knew something was going on. When I went to the barn with my torch I was very excited to find a very wet little black foal lay in the straw”
As Lily was still so weak, the birth had exhausted her and she was unable to dry the foal herself. Amanda soon sprang into action and dried to foal off to give it the energy it needed to try and stand, and with mother and foal both exhausted from the birth, it was down to Amanda to milk the donkey by hand and give the baby the much needed colostrum milk in a bottle to build up her strength.
Finally, after a long 10 hour night, the little foal was strong enough to find her mother’s milk and began to feed for herself – a huge sigh of relief for everyone at Shropshire Donkey Rescue.
Both mother and foal - now named Rosie - are now doing very well, and are welcoming visitors at Shropshire Donkey Rescue. “We are very proud of how well they are both doing under the circumstances, and she has already become a firm favourite with my little boy, Thomas – they are like best friends already!” The sanctuary is open on a Friday – Sunday from 10am -3pm.
|
|
