When Sheila Burns founded PrimRose Donkey Sanctuary in 2000, her vision was to provide a home so neglected animals could find healing and love. Now, more than 25 years later, she continues to make sure every single donkey feels content in their new home.
That’s why the charity is currently raising funds to build an “oasis” so two blind donkeys can find safety and comfort without changing how they go about their day-to-day life.
Daisy and Sally are miniature donkeys who arrived at PrimRose Donkey Sanctuary last year. Daisy, who is 24 years old, has severe cataracts that caused her to lose her sight while 21-year-old Sally was born blind. But that didn’t stop them from becoming bonded three years ago and sticking by each other’s side ever since.
“They’re always together. When one of them strays away, the other will start doing a circle to make sure there are no obstacles in their area,” says Burns, noting that they’ll stop doing the anxious circles once they are reunited. “It’s amazing how they work things out together.”
Currently, Daisy and Sally reside in a lean-to that is closed off from the public so they can feel safe. This area, however, is still in the barn, meaning they can still hear and smell the more than 50 other animals who reside at the sanctuary.
“They have their own water and their hay in mangers, but they don’t have the security of their own little spot away from other donkeys,” Burns says. “It’s secure and it’s out of the weather, but it’s not the biggest. They need something a bit bigger where they can walk and get more exercise.”
This also means an unchanging space that is big enough for Daisy and Sally to roam freely, but without being so big that they feel lost or confused.
“When they’re blind like this, they can’t go out in the field and run and wander around freely,” says Burns. “Out in the field, (other) donkeys are wandering around and so they walk into each other, they might step on a rock, and they might have other obstacles.”
Those who have visited the sanctuary before might have met some of the other blind donkeys who live on the farm. The very first, Patsy, had a “seeing eye donkey” named Jonathan Cupcake who looked after her.
“She could put her head on his back, and he would lead her into a shelter, or he’d lead her away from donkeys that were playing and running,” Burns says.
“But these girls (Daisy and Sally) don’t have anybody like that. They just have each other and their blindness, so we have to make their environment safe and secure so that they won’t have to worry about bumping up against anything or being in touch with anything they don’t recognize.”
Burns adds that she doesn’t think there’s any chance Sally or Daisy will have their own seeing eye donkeys to guide them.
“I think introducing another animal to them would just stress them right out, so we’ll just leave them the way they are and get them this nice little oasis going and they’ll feel very secure and comfortable,” Burns explains.
After all, she says, they manage well on their own already as a bonded pair, so there’s no need to mix up how they interact with the world.
“When you have an animal with a physical illness like blindness or deafness, you always feel so sorry for them and that they’re missing out on so much of life,” she says. “But these two have bonded and they’re just so attached to each other that between the two of them, they pretty well get the day figured out.”
The oasis will be constructed on PrimRose Donkey Sanctuary’s newly acquired 14-acre property across County Road 9 at the back of the farm and Burns hopes construction will begin this spring.
Though the charity is still in the process of designing the oasis — which might depend on how much money the campaign raises — Burns says it will be four seasons, secure from the wind, and have access to hydro and water. It will also accommodate access for groomers, hoof care providers, and veterinary care so Daisy and Sally never have to leave.
“This will be a safe space. No other donkeys there and limited people going in because they’re very nervous still of strangers, which is understandable,” she says. “I’m very excited to get this thing going. It’ll be absolutely wonderful for the girls.”
To make a donation to the build, visit www.primrosedonkeysanctuary.com or send an e-transfer to primrosedonkeysanctuary@gmail.com with a comment that the donation should be directed towards the oasis for Daisy and Sally.
