HELP SAVE A DONKEY SANCTUARY DESTROYED BY FLOOD EMERGENCY

Help Donkey Welfare With Heart Recover From Devastating Floods

My name is Ruby, and I volunteer at Donkey Welfare With Heart, a registered charity located in the Hunter Valley, New South Wales, Australia. This sanctuary—home to over 100 rescued donkeys—has been devastated by record-breaking floods, and we need your help to rebuild.

What Happened

On May 18th, relentless rains triggered a state of emergency in our region. Within days, floodwaters rose over 20 feet. Roads became impassable, and our sanctuary—known as The Heartland—was completely submerged. We managed to move the donkeys to limited acres of higher ground in time, but the aftermath has been overwhelming:

Many donkeys are now suffering from hoof infections, abscesses, and cracks due to prolonged exposure to contaminated floodwaters.

Our grazing paddocks were destroyed—the grass has died, and the ground is now layers of wet rot.

Fences, shelters, and stables were ripped apart and washed away.

We’ve run out of emergency hay and feed.

We also lost all our donkey care equipment, medications, and medical supplies—everything from bandages and wound care to dewormers and parasite control.

Without immediate financial support, Donkey Welfare With Heart will not survive.

Who We Are

Since 1977, Donkey Welfare With Heart Inc. has provided rescue, rehabilitation, and sanctuary for donkeys who are mistreated, orphaned, homeless, sick, injured, or neglected. We do this entirely through volunteer efforts and public donations. The donkeys own the land they live on. We’ve never had flashy facilities—just a lot of heart.

At the core of this organization is Christine Berry, who has led DWWH since 1977. She is the soul of this sanctuary and has dedicated her life to saving donkeys.

About Christine

Christine was told she had two years to live—14 years ago. Despite 11 years of chemotherapy, multiple battles with cancer, a mastectomy, and caring for her late husband who had leukemia, Christine has never stopped rescuing animals in need. At 75 years old, if a call comes in at 3 a.m. about a donkey in trouble, she answers it without hesitation. She’s driven across the outback for hours just to save one donkey.

Christine has received the Order of Australia Medal, personally awarded to her by Queen Elizabeth II, for her outstanding service to animal welfare—especially for donkeys in need. She has written three books on donkey care, fostered 17 children, and changed countless lives—both human and animal.

She tells me she couldn’t do it without the volunteers, but we all know: Christine is the backbone of Donkey Welfare With Heart.

What We Need

The below represents a list of only essential supplies to address the immediate needs to care for the donkeys:

800 bales of hay @ $20 each (delivered and stacked): $16,000

50 bags of chopped hay (chaff) @ $32 each: $1,600

100 bales of straw @ $20 each: $2,000

20 bags of bran (fine midlings) @ $13 each: $260

10 bottles of donkey wormer @ $170 each: $1,700

6 bottles of pink eye antibiotic powder @ $60 each: $360

6 bottles of antibiotic eye cream Chlorsig (for fair donkeys) @ $60 each: $360

20 units of Pestene (lice prevention) @ $35 each: $700

10 units of pink nose cream @ $40 each: $400

10 bags of Himalayan rock salt @ $35 each: $350

25 mineral lick blocks @ $40 each: $1,000

25 bags of calcium powder @ $20 each: $500

5 solar energy boxes @ $800 each: $4,000

8,000 meters of electric fence tape: $2,400

100 galvanized Iron fence posts @ $36 each: $3,600

Galvanized Iron roofing + labor: $20,000

5 feed storage bins w/lids @ $66 each: $330

Carpenter hire and timber: $1000

400 square meters of wood chips @ $80sqm: $32,000

Bobcat hire for wood chips for two days: $2000

Transport float repairs: $5,000

5, 4L Dulux Metalshield primer @ $92 each: $460

2, 15L Bitumen trough sealer @ $135 each: $270

Total $95,290

Christine’s one wish? Flood-proof grazing paddocks, or the ability to lease land during flood seasons—so the donkeys will always have a safe place to go.

We’re not asking for your support to do anything extravagant—just your help fulfilling the basic needs of the animals until Donkey Welfare with Heart can get back on its feet. No funds raised from this Gofundme will go to salaries, there are no salaries at Donkey Welfare with Heart. We are entirely a volunteer organization. EVERY dollar of EVERY contribution will go toward the animals and their care.

This Fundraiser is in AUD. Currently $1.00 AUD is equal to $0.65 USD 

If you’d like to learn more or see photos and updates, please visit our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/DonkeyWelfareWithHeart/ You can also donate directly through our website at https://www.donkeywelfare.com.au

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts—for reading, for sharing, and for caring.

❤️ Ruby 

Volunteer, Donkey Welfare With Heart