Syd has arrived 06/24/2010
 
Syd arrived with us on Sunday afternoon. After a short journey in the back of a truck I walked him the rest of the way to our sanctuary. He is settling in well
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Syd walks well and without problems down to the sanctuary. he stops on the way for a roll!
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He is introduce to the other 'oldies' over the fence. He wants to talk to them
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This is probably the first time in his life that he has not been tethered or tied up with a rope.

He has made friends with Zak
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He nearly runs when he sees us the next morning. He is one happy donkey now

The wound on his leg is still not completely healed but it is a lot easier for us to treat it now that he is living here with us.
 
 
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BLOG 02/18/2010
 
Please find the blog here http://donkeycarecrete.wordpress.com
 
Giannoula update 01/31/2010
 
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Following our previous news(click on 'news' under blog) on this poor donkey, matters have progressed a little.

Having originally agreed that there was only one course of action, Manolis, who took the donkey from his uncle changed his mind and thought that with a little cutting of her hooves she would be alright. The facts are that she is an old donkey, with major problems causing her great pain and excluding her age, if she was to be treated it could only be in an equine hospital, taking many weeks and costing a great deal of money.

A factor here in Crete is that it is thought to be dishonourable to euthanize a donkey, but to let it suffer and perhaps be starved to death is better – obviously it is difficult to argue against that deeply entrenched belief system.

Thankfully our vet in Ierapetra is a caring man and he agreed to come with me (Alistair) to see her to judge for himself. I think that despite us telling him about her condition and him seeing photographs he was shocked to see her. This time she was at least tethered on a longer rope and could reach food.

She can hardly move and lifts each back leg in turn, indicating that she is in considerable pain.What to do next. The vet can do nothing without the owners permission. The municipal vat is authorised to take action without permission, but as was explained to me, although I already know this, we are a small community where everyone knows everyone else and do not want to offend. So it may be the law, but….

Our vet Michalis Spiridakis, will speak to the owner to try to convince him that there is only one course of action and Elisa Geskou, the equine specialist from GAWF will see her, if Gianoula is still around when she comes later in February.

She is a heartbreaking sight, but Michalis has become involved without payment and is trying his best to convince the owner that she must be freed from the pain.

Anyone reading this, I suggest, should remember that cruelty does occur everywhere and while we would all like animal welfare to be of the highest standards it is not always possible. Do not think badly of all people here. As Michalis was telling me, in his 15 years in practice he has seen vast improvements. Not lots dogs coming into his surgery every day having been poisoned. Local people with pet dogs and taking the greatest care of them. There is a long way to go, but animal welfare has improved vastly. We hope that in some small way we can help with that process.

Manolis is a kind man with 3 other donkeys, it is impossible to agree with his view, but I can understand, just, but not accept, why he wants her to survive.

Lets hope that he can be helped to make the correct decision.

We will continue to visit Gianoula, and try to ensure that she has pain killers as a minimum and hopefully a final release from her misery. She has had a long hard working life until recently she needs to have a dignified end.
 
HAPPY NEW YEAR! 12/22/2009
 
We at ‘Walk with Donkeys’ would like to wish all our supporters a very happy new year. We would also like to wish all the animals, especially the donkeys, a year when attitudes towards them will change for the better.

We have been very happy that we have made so many new friends around the world via the internet, especially with our facebook page WalkwithdonkeysCrete and our websites www.walkwithdonkeys.com and www.donkeycarecrete.com

We are astounded by the generosity of people who wish to help us to help the donkeys here in this little corner of Crete. Every euro makes a difference and if it wasn’t for your help we would not have been able to give a new home to our two latest donkeys (Boots and Coconut). This brings our total to 10 donkeys living here with us.
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coconut having breakfast in bed
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Boots when we found him tied to a tree by his foot
Both donkeys are very happy in their new home and Coconut is able to get treatment for his arthritis and general joint stiffness.

This autumn Alistair was very busy and singlehandedly built a new stable and fenced in a small area so that the four ‘golden oldies’ can live together without the bullying of the younger donkeys.
Alistair also renewed a section of fencing from the other run which had been demolished. This was with the help of young Loukas who insisted on stealing the wire cutters and anything else he could get his lips around! But we are hopeful that the risk of the donkeys escaping into our neighbours vegetables is now diminished.

We have received a consignment of new headcollars and have started distributing these to the donkeys in need in the area. This will be continued as part of our outreach programme at the end of February when we hope to be able to provide treatment to many of the 30 or so working donkeys in the village of Males and the 12 in Kalamafka. Our donkeys have also benefitted from this. Here are two pictures of Tessa, the left one is when we first got her with her chain that was cutting into her nose, and the second a happier donkey!
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Our biggest surprise this year was help all the way from Australia. Christine Berry OBE (a  farrier and equine dentist) not only sent us a parcel with medicines and other supplies but she and four volunteers came to visit us for a week where they helped out treating our donkeys and some other donkeys in the area.
We have been trying to help other donkeys in the area who are really in need. We have supplied equine butazone to try to relieve the pain that this donkey is in. We have asked the GAWF equine expert to telephone the owner to explain that this donkey is now in need of euthanasia, (she treated it last year). Unfortunately at the moment the owner will not do this and wants to wait until the vet comes in February.
I would like to thank everyone individually for their financial support but this is not possible so ‘a very big thank-you’ (you know who you are!) Please encourage other people to support us in whatever way it is. One of our most unusual donations came from a talented lady who knitted donkeys and sold them to raise money for us.

We are still wanting more recipes for a cookery leaflet that is being produced by one of our supporters in the uk . Please send recipes to me at info@walkwithdonkeys.com

Buy an exclusive ‘walkwithdonkeys’ T shirt. Do your Amazon shopping via our website or just make a donation via paypal or bank transfer (How about an after christmas sponsored slim?!)

Just please help these donkeys.

 

Thank you

Alistair and Suzanne