Bambi, a starving donkey foal who was rescued from a field in the West Midlands, has made a remarkable recovery and it is hoped she will soon become eligible for rehoming.
The six-month-old was so underweight that her rescuers, The Donkey Sanctuary welfare advisers Kia Thomas, Sally Bamforth and Adele Crompton, were concerned she wouldn’t survive.
Bambi, who also had mud fever and was covered in lice, was found on boggy scrubland with three underweight geldings called Snowman, Barney and Ben.
The quartet had no suitable grazing, the fencing surrounding the field was broken and dangerous, and they were close to a main road.
Bambi was so hungry she was trying to suckle from Snowman and was chewing on dock leaves. It was discovered later that Bambi’s mother had passed away.
Snowman, Barney and Ben also required veterinary attention as they were extremely thin. Snowman also had scabs on his muzzle and was quiet and withdrawn. He is now on pain relief for hock arthritis.
Kia, Sally and Adele enlisted the help of the RSPCA to remove the donkeys, and they were taken into the possession of West Midlands Constabulary under Section 18 of the Animal Welfare Act. They have subsequently been placed into the permanent care of The Donkey Sanctuary.
‘Desperate situation’
“This was a desperate situation, especially for Bambi, who was severely underweight and searching for a source of food and milk,” said Kia.
“We were concerned that we needed to take immediate action that day or Bambi was unlikely to survive much longer. Bambi was very quiet and dull, and although her coat was quite thick and fluffy to the eye, it hid how skinny she really was. When we felt Bambi’s body, her spine and hip bones were very prominent.”
The donkeys’ owners pleaded guilty to neglecting the donkeys and were both disqualified from owning donkeys and their hybrids for five years. They were also given a community order of 24 months with a condition of 50 hours unpaid work each and ordered to pay costs of £600.
Now, a year on from the rescue, the four donkeys have recovered well and are leading happy lives at The Donkey Sanctuary. Due to his health issues, Snowman will live permanently at the sanctuary so he can continue to receive specialist care but it is hoped the other three will become eligible for rehoming soon.
“In the days and weeks after their rescue, we followed the donkeys’ journey closely. We were very relieved that Bambi and her companions responded so well to the care they received. It is my hope that these donkeys go on to lead happy, healthy lives and receive the care and attention they deserve,” said Kia.
