A Rescue by Any Means

The song written by Chris Blignaut says:

Yes, donkeys are truly wonderful animals! Those of us who do not rely on donkeys as draft or pack animals probably rank donkeys as one of the most endearing domesticated animals. Donkeys who are draft or pack animals sadly do not have wonderful lives. They are “wonderful things” living largely dreadful lives.

The donkey is an equine domesticated in Africa some 5000–7000 years ago. It has been used mainly as a working animal since that time. Research suggests there are more than 40 million donkeys in the world, mostly in underdeveloped countries, where they are used principally as draught or pack animals.

The Horror of the Hide Trade

What is not so commonly known, donkeys are slaughtered for their skins. The collagen from their skin produces what is known as ejiao, (pronounced uh-jee-ow), which is used in food, drink or beauty products and considered a traditional Chinese medicine.

Legal or not, the trade in donkey hides brings cruelty and suffering to donkeys wherever it operates. From source to slaughter, the donkeys who get caught up in this trade suffer at every stage. The slaughter methods are often unregulated, inhumane and unsanitary, and large numbers of donkeys die on their way to slaughterhouses.

My awareness of the donkey hide trade into China is the reason I have the pleasure of the company of donkeys in my sanctuary. Rescuers will understand and those who don’t are allowed to laugh at those of us who do everything we do to avoid animal cruelty and suffering one animal at a time.

I had recognised the dire need to educate children to be kind to animals and education seemed like a logical extension of my activities. My awareness of the donkey hide trade into China is the reason I have the pleasure of the company of donkeys in my sanctuary. In this piece I will allow you to draw the conclusion that some people are just wired differently. Rescuers will understand and those who don’t are allowed to laugh at those of us who do everything we do to avoid animal cruelty and suffering one animal at a time.

One problem (and there are many) with being an “unrehabilitateable rescuer” is I have an acute awareness of anything that impacts on an animal’s life. On my way from my Free State home to KwaZulu-Natal I made my obligatory stop at the cherry farm for a cherry ice cream. At the cashier I noticed a pile of a local newsletter. I left clutching the local news with my cup of cherry heaven.

Home at the Sanctuary

Perhaps the donkeys have heard the lines of the song about them, perhaps they could read my mind about the reasons for sparing them a life of hardship, perhaps they just wanted to thank me for picking up the paper while buying an ice cream; they soon found their voices and the neighbourhood resounded with donkey greetings. The sanctuary had become home to five new arrivals – Ernie, Gus, Momma, Poppet and Milly as they were to be named.

Of the many things being involved in rescue has taught me, donkeys have a sense of humour, are super-intelligent and bond with each other and pine for one another. How sad their lives must be wherever they are alone, tied up when not forced to pull a heavy cart. Not even to mention the suffering brought on by the cruel Chinese medicine trade.