Safe Haven for Donkeys in the Holy Land

At our sanctuary in Israel, Safe Haven for Donkeys provides a loving home to 215 animals. Meanwhile, out in the West Bank, the charity’s mobile clinic treats around 1,000 donkeys a month. We urgently need your support.

Safe Haven for Donkeys was set up in 2000 to help the thousands of working donkeys in Israel and the Palestinian Territories.

One such donkey is Burnie. (See pic.) Burnie endured one of the most traumatic experiences when he was badly burned. Large parts of his belly and back were painfully hurt and he still needs ointment today to protect and soothe his damaged skin. Burnie is a very gentle donkey much loved by the visitors at the sanctuary.

Today, our sanctuary in Israel is providing life-long care for unwanted and abused donkeys of all ages but the charity’s work does not stop at the sanctuary gates.

Each month, our mobile clinic helps around 500 working donkeys, mules and horses across the Palestinian Territories and we also have a permanent clinic in the Palestinian city of Nablus. Common injuries such as those from poor harnessing, overgrown hooves and bad teeth are easily treatable and go a long way in improving the lives of the animals who work so hard for so little.

Advice and education are key parts of Safe Haven’s work with the owners and their children. Through our dedication and gentle approach, the team has many, many friends and is treated with trust and respect.

Please help us to continue our vital work looking after the residents of Safe Haven and reaching out to those donkeys pulling carts, carrying loads or abandoned when too old or injured to work.

Our outlook on helping working donkeys and horses is to provide treatment to relieve pain and suffering and education to prevent those injuries and illnesses reoccurring. We know that this method is effective without spending vast sums of money on research and evaluation. How? Because when we go back into an area, we can easily see the difference we’ve made by the number and types of injuries that are presented to our vet. Research and advocacy are important tools to help change mindsets although we know that diverting money to these areas would take your donations away from the donkeys and other animals we treat.

Our ambition is to get to more places around the world where we can use this tried and tested methodology to even better effect. We can only do that with your continued support. Thank You!