EE Oficial Adopted Donkeys!

[chapsi]

In the follow up from the thread on the rescue of Judite, Heather very kindly made us a generous donation on behalf of EE, towards the adoption off two of our donkeys from the Shelter, and the choice was left up to us. We then selected two donkeys, both representatives of the local specimens. We chose Gaiato and Rosa, as the EE adoptees, as both donkeys will remain at the Shelter for the rest of their lives. The two are also a symbol to EE’s commitment to a better, fair world to animals, an icon of the forum’s ethos.

In the meanwhile, we posted by email the Adoption Packs for the two EE donkeys, which included the Adoption Certificates, a general description of the Adopted Donkey and Our Mission statement. These adoptions will be valid for a year, until the end of 2008.

1. Gaiato is an old, grumpy donkey, a real character! He worked very hard all his life, as an agricultural pack and harness animal. I am certain he is a rig; he reminds me a lot of a certain horse... no doubt the result of a cold blooded castration, performed by some local farrier.
Gaiato arrived at the Shelter in August 2007, bought from a local farmer.
He worked hard on daily basis, used in all kinds of agricultural hard tasks, namely pulling the cart, ploughing and thrashing, and carrying heavy loads on his back. Such a hard work life caused him severe conformational problems, like a very saggy back.
He currently lives at the Shelter, together with the remaining donkeys, clearly assuming a lead role.
Gaiato must be around 20 years old, a strong character; although the way how he was handled in the past still makes him suspicious of people.

2. Rosa is our most recent arrival just a couple of weeks ago. Her elderly owner placed her by the Shelter, so that she could continue to enjoy the rest of her life happily, after having worked as a harness animal in agricultural chores. Although she came from a loving home, she arrived grossly obese, having lived mostly stabled with very little movement in the last few years... and she is currently under treatment for mange. Despite the fact she had been used as a draught animal, her club feet prevent her from working.
Rosa’s friendly and calm nature has earned her all the sympathy from everybody around her. She is also a very pretty jenny.

Needless to say, we'll also be delighted, if at any given time, any EE member came to Portugal and decided to visit us.
Currently, we are also planning to launch a Newsletter for 'Adoptive Parents', as from this year, whereby we'll keep you updated of further developments and activities related to our Project, and the antics of these two EE donkeys.

Now, some photos… a bit of a storyline…

Gaiato, shortly after he arrived at the Donkey Shelter, in Summer 2007. Please look his poor conformation, his saggy back and muscle atrophy.





On our first meeting and my first visit to Donkeyland. This is the day when it all began… he was really grumpy and suspicious of me.



He reminded of Pegs… my instinct kept telling me he was a rig…

And so he is. He mounts the jennies and he guards his territory… Here is giving love bites to Flôr... I guess she is sayng "Not today, I've got an headache... "

Yet, he is gentle with women and children. He and Anna (Lou’s daughter) had an instant rapport.


Gaiato had a very hard life. What goes on his mind will remain a mystery, but he is a right, strong character.


And now Rosa, the most feminine, pretty jenny, with unusual markings and colour.
She is simply adorable, and Gaiato fell in-love with her. It was love at first sight. We are expecting loving games, when she is brought into the herd…

[Maggie_L]

Thank you for the stories and photos - love seeing them 

[Heather]

Aw that is lovely Maria!! Thanks for posting the piccies and do keep us updated, we love to hear of the EE donks!!

Heather

[Erin's mum]

Aww  They are both gorgeous and very deserving i'm sure of finding themselves in such a fantastic place surrounded by love and lots of other donkey pals 

what you guys do is just so fantastic!

[chapsi]

Last night Gaiato took ill suddenly, in a matter of minutes.  :'(
He didn't eat, dropped his head and started to shiver with heavy breathing...

I suspect it was a grastic upset and I gave him Reiki promptly.
He walked away from my hands whenever he felt it was enough, and settled back again into the energy flow.
Eventually he deffecated twice and urinated, and he seemed to perk up again... we didn't manage to get hold of the vet...   

We checked him late in the night and he seemed fine. What a sigh of relief! 

It was touching to see Flôr, the old jenny, looking after him and comforting him, like a loving couple. Again I saw evidence of the strong sense of solidarity that donkeys share amongst each other.
Such caring creatures.

[toni]

Phew, what a worry. Glad he is feeling ok now.

Thanks for these updates Maria, I love the donks! 

[chapsi]

Worried now.... The Shelter's fondour just rang... he is looking ill again... Vet's there now... 

[luckyrider]

Oh come on Gaiato, we've only just got you, hang on for the vet please.

Maria, I'm sure you're doing everything humanly possible to get help for him. 

[toni]

Any news Maria? 

  for Gaiato

[whisper's mum]

  I hope you're all ok.   

[1 morejump]

Hang in Gaiato! Things will get better buddy, I know it!

Rosa is a cutie! Is that color on a donkey unusual over there? That is what most of our donkeys look like here, I think your native hairy ones are amazing!

[chapsi]

Gaiato has been diagnosed with pneumonia... :(
Vet prescribed antibiotic and antiflamatory... And we are left to inject him ourselves, which I hate doing... The foundor does it, in fact... I'd be too scared to hurt them... 

He is not feeling well. He has poor appetite and he spends a long time lying down.

I've been giving him Reiki and he seems to perk up a bit afterwards.
However, yesterday, soon as I started, we had a fright . He was lying down and as I started, he sighed and laid flat down, his head on my legs, with his eyes shut... we thought he was dying... I rushed to ring the vet (no reply... ) and when I got back, he stood up and went to munch some hay... 
What a relief it was for both od us!

In the evening, Donkey Man (the Foundor) went to check him out... all donkeys were inside the stable, except Gaiato, who decided to go for a night stroll in the moonlight inside the woods, patrolling the territory. DM had a huge fright... as Gaiato was braying mighty!

But this is no good... we are struggling with everything... the facilities are bad and dirty... the stable is huge but the flooring is a deep manure bed... It was heartbreaking to see Gaiato lying down on the wet manure (the stable is located at the bottom of a hill, no drains...)...
And the roomwhere we keep the hay is now full of hens. There is chicken dirt EVERYWHERE, as well as bowls full of soggy bread left by the farmer. HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Happy]

But this is no good... we are struggling with everything... the facilities are bad and dirty... the stable is huge but the flooring is a deep manure bed... It was heartbreaking to see Gaiato lying down on the wet manure (the stable is located at the bottom of a hill, no drains...)...
And the roomwhere we keep the hay is now full of hens. There is chicken dirt EVERYWHERE, as well as bowls full of soggy bread left by the farmer. HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So glad to hear he is feeling better! 

If I would be able to afford any holidays in Portugal, I would come down and help you with the works that should be done for a week... maybe I win in the lottery one day...  :(

[ludlu]

Oh Maria.  I hope he pulls through.  At least he's somewhere comfortable and surounded with love now.

[chapsi]

This is no good... I'm feeling like Florence Nightingale at the worse...
Due to unforeseen circumstances at the farm (not to do with us), we had to go in after dark to feed the donkeys...
There is no electricity at the stables nor in the hay room; the hay room is crowded with hens at the moment, and there is chicken dirty and soggy bread EVERYWHERE... I'm walking on slimmy, slippery chicken crap and wet bread, and I keep kicking hens! It feels great!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And in the pitch of the night.

Anyway, in the middle of all this, we still had to inject Gaiato (antibiotic day 4). He wasn't very keen    (poor boy), using a torch. Nor me, nor DM are vets; the antibiotic is very thick and it's a dificult injection.
What a palava! Gaiato wrestled, DM pricked him several times, he was even bleeding. DM was very stressed and I felt hopeless. In the end we had to call the farmer, who used his blunt but straight methods...

This is rather hard for us atm... we need our own clean and comfortable facilities... and then all doors are closing all the time on our faces...
Not fair. We are only trying to do our best for these animals...  :'(

We could do with a cuddle...
Ambatt will visit tomorrow. I bet she'll go  with all the chicken puke!