Help bring Cyprus donkeys, Cinnamon and friend, to UK rescue

This is undoubtedly my biggest fundraising project to date! Many of you know that I have been a regular visitor to Cyprus and involved with animal welfare there for 20yrs, but in 2024, I fell in love with a very beautiful, if rather sad little donkey (who I have named Cinnamon, on account of his stunning colour and have been back to visit him around a dozen times) living in a shelter with many other equines. As I have also been a volunteer with the wonderful Worcester Donkey Rescue for 2yrs now, they have very kindly offered him a permanent loving home, along with one of his buddies, for company. Raising the money (£11000) to cover the cost of transporting them from Cyprus to the UK will be a huge challenge, but one which I'm determined to embrace, both online and with various sales, carboots and other events I'm running and here's why...

Donkeys are supposedly a protected species in Cyprus, although as in so many other countries, they are still regularly exploited and abused, whether through negligence, deliberate cruelty, 'traditions' or tourism for profit. As shown in the attached photos, a great many donkeys in Cyprus have endured backbreaking workloads, long term infected wounds from inappropriate harnesses or chains, spent years tethered out in the open with no shelter from the scorching 40⁰c summer sun or torrential storms, have insufficient or unsuitable food and water, lack of grazing due to the climate, or are made to carry tourists who are way over the recommended weight, day in, day out, for profit. There are currently several donkey farms in Cyprus which, in addition to keeping far too many donkeys in small, cramped enclosures, also profit from products made from donkey milk, which means an endless cycle of breeding is necessary. In addition, finances and limited availability of specialist services on the island mean that donkeys often go without veterinary care; everything from routine wormers, dental checks and hoof care, to emergency medical treatment when sick. There are numerous documented cases over the years, of donkeys just being left to die in pain, or abandoned because they are no longer fit for purpose. Lack of education and understanding of donkeys' welfare needs can also lead to complex emotional suffering and many just end up mentally shutting down. (A recent study showed that donkeys in many poorer countries are actually suffering from PTSD as a result of their workload and lifestyle.)

Whilst our pair are technically safe currently, as they are living at the island's largest animal shelter, with around 1500 mouths to feed and with the current financial climate being so harsh (minimal employment opportunities, notoriously low wages, a very transient community with many foreigners coming and going from the island and leaving pets behind, limited adoption opportunities, a culture of hunting with dogs, an island said to have more stray/feral cats than humans and a questionable animal welfare record with existing laws regularly not enforced, not to mention the recent horrific wildfires which have displaced so many humans and animals) the shelter is existing on the verge of bankruptcy and regularly runs out of food and has to appeal for urgent help. They are close to breaking point because of the sheer volume of their workload, the limited support and resources available and the difficult times in which they have found themselves.

If we can raise the funds to bring these two donkeys to Worcester in the UK, they will want for nothing. Our existing herd of ten has a plentiful supply of grazing in a peaceful rural setting, more than the recommended amount of space per head, one to one attention, shelter and warmth, regular farrier visits, veterinary care whenever required, an experienced and knowledgeable owner who is supported by a wonderful team of volunteers, who regularly spend time grooming, providing enrichment and fundraising for them. The focus is on each individual's needs and none of them are ridden or made to work. Our existing donkeys are all rescues and several have been saved from abattoirs/the meat trade.

Whilst it may seem a tiny drop in the ocean to only rescue two donkeys when there are so many others also in need, we do have to be realistic, but if I can play a part in even two of these gorgeous, gentle, innocent animals having the opportunity of an amazing, happy, new life, I owe it to them to try.

On behalf of myself, Cinnamon and his (as yet, unspecified) buddy, thank you for reading and please don't think that your donation would be too small to make a difference - even tiny donations add up.

Jo X