Urgent - sauver ânes / save donkeys

La Drome Donkeys  urgently needs your help



At ‘Les Beaux Chenes’ Gites we have rescued three Provence donkeys and also re-homed three Baudet du Poitou donkeys, a critically endangered breed.

As well as our tiny refuge, we have just started the first breeding programme for these amazing Poitou donkeys, the only one in La Drome. We do this because we are passionate about donkeys and we feel that helping to preserve this glorious, critically endangered breed, by keeping the Mums in the best condition possible, in a caring and loving way, is important and valuable work. Normally, we pay for this with the money that we earn from our gite business and we are very happy to do this as so many donkeys are neglected and lead miserable and unhappy lives. We are keen to do  our small part to help to save the Poitou from extinction. 

However, with the ongoing Corona Virus crisis,  we were forced to close twice last year and now suddenly, we are closed again until at least early May and possibly longer. So from having lots of reservations for April, we suddenly have no visitors yet again at the moment, as people are not allowed to travel for holidays. Not only is this extremely difficult for our business but it has a huge impact on our ability to feed and care for the donkeys. All the more crucial because we now have two beautiful baby Baudet du Poitous, in addition to the 6 other lovely donkeys. Most worrying is that Anissou, who arrived in terrible condition at the end of 2019, is pregnant for September but has just been diagnosed with Cushings Syndrome/PPID and a serious iron defficiency. The end result is that she needs special care, regular medical and Farrier visits, medication, a special diet and special shoes. The Cushings causes her laminitis to flare up and intestinal sensitivity, which means colic attacks.  Both of which can be fatal.  She is not allowed to eat grass at the moment and the hay alone is costing 10 euros a day. All of our Poitous are pure race, Stud Book A  but Anissou and her unborn foal are especially genetically important for the conservation of their race because she has an extremely rare bloodline.

When we re-homed Anissou and Dobble at the end of 2019, who both arrived in a terrible state, we could see that our gite business would fund this passion project.  COVID was not imaginable.

Quite frankly without any form of aid and no visitors yet again, we are not currently sure how we will be able to care for them. Therefore, we are now asking for your help as a small contribution at this time could make all the difference. For those of you who feel that they are able to help we would be delighted to offer a reduction on any future holidays here at ‘Les Beaux Chenes’ Gites.

Please make a small donation to their costs. This will allow us to weather this storm and for the donkeys future to be secure.



Des ânes dans la Drôme ont besoin de votre aide!

Aux gîtes Les beaux Chênes nous avons sauvé trois ânes de Provence  et sollicités par l association mulassiere nous avons accueilli deux ânesses de race Baudet du Poitou en très piètre conditions qui sont venues en plus d une ânesse de la même brave accueillie un an auparavant. Nous avons été émis par la disparition inquiétante de cette vieille race du patrimoine français et qu on demande de préserver.Nous nous sommes engagés dans cette voie et ce programme par passion et avec le sentiment d aider une noble cause.

En temps normal ,nous leur dédions une part importante de nos revenus des gîtes et sommes fiers et heureux de contribuer alors que tant de leurs semblables vivent dans de terribles conditions.

Cependant ,avec la crise du coronavirus,nous sommes passés de revenus assurés jusqu'à septembre à neant. Touts nos réservations ont été annulées jusqu'à août. Cela affecte gravement notre entreprise familiale mais a également un impact sur nos possibilités de nourrir et prodiguer l assistance vétérinaire nécessaire à leur santé.

Ceci est d autant plus grave au regard de l état dans lequel ils sont arrives : sarcoïdose et abcès non soignés aux sabots nécessitant des soins constants.

Deux des ânesses sont pleines et attendent un petit pour début mai et l autre pour septembre.

Sans aucun soutien ou reprise de notre activité nous ignorons si nous pourrons encore prendre soins deux. 

Nous y tenons et c est pourquoi nous nous permettons de lancer un appel à l aide.

Toute contribution même modeste nous aidera énormément et nous serons ravis d offrir a ceux qui désirent venir quand ce sera possible passer un séjour aux gîtes une réduction sur leur hébergement.

S il vous plaît,même petitement aidez nous. Cela nous permettra de passer la tempête avec dignité car en mesure de protéger nos animaux comme nous y étions engagés.

Merci pour eux.