Share the ! Adopt a Donkey.

Why adopt a Donkey?

Adopting a donkey is a lovely way to support the work of the Island Farm Donkey Sanctuary which provides a safe place for abused and ill-treated donkeys and helps them to go on to live peaceful and happy lives. It also gives you an extra incentive to come and visit as we will be pleased to meet you and introduce you to your donkey.

A great many of our donkey adoptions are given as gifts and it certainly makes an unusual present! We will happily make arrangements for you to adopt a donkey on behalf of another person if you’d like to give this as a gift.

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How much does it cost?

The cost of a donkey adoption is £25 for the year.

What do I get?

You will receive a beautiful photograph of your donkey and details about his or her life-story as well as an adoption certificate. There are also plenty of opportunities either to visit your donkey here at the Sanctuary or when out-and-about in the local community at events or attending donkey shows.

Where can I see my donkey?

Our adoption donkeys are very active in the local community, attending church services at Easter and Christmas as well at participating at local events such as country fairs and steam rallies. We will keep details of the forthcoming activities of the donkeys on the website so that you can see what they are up to and, of course, you could then go and see them in action.

Remember though, that arrangements might change at the last minute if a donkey is ill or otherwise unfit to travel so it is worth telephoning the Sanctuary on the day to check if your donkey will be attending a particular event, especially if you are going to make a long journey. This also applies if you want to come to the Sanctuary and visit your donkey. We would be thrilled to see you but do call or email to check that your special donkey will at home as we’d hate for you to be disappointed.

Some of the adoption donkeys also compete in donkey shows around the country, often with great success. We like to take our donkeys to competitions to demonstrate what a happy and healthy life a rescue donkey can lead as well as providing valuable publicity for our work. If you would like to share the excitement when your adoption donkey is at a show by coming along to watch, please let us know so that we can chat to you at the showground and make sure that you feel welcome and involved.

Which donkey should I adopt?

That’s a difficult question but we’ve tried to make it easier by having ten donkeys to choose from so we hope that you will find one that appeals to you. Have a look at the photographs and their stories to help you make a decision. If you live nearby and would like to visit before making a choice, then you are very welcome. There is usually someone around to help you identify the adoption donkeys and to chat to you about them.

Bentley

Bentley was born at the Sanctuary on Thursday 12th January 2017 to Chloe, a beautiful chestnut mare donkey about 19 years of age who came into the care of the Sanctuary in April 2016 with two other mare donkeys.

Adopt Bentley

Brewster

Brewster was born at the Sanctuary in May 2001 to Brandy, a mare donkey rescued in 1998 from a livestock market. He had an accident at the age of ten months and broke his leg in 2 places. He was treated at the Royal Veterinary College in London where he had steel plates and pins inserted in his leg.

Adopt Brewster

Dizzy

Dizzy is a mare donkey with colouring known as grey roan. She was born in 2012 and stands at 10.2 hands She is a very friendly donkey who loves to meet people. Dizzy came into the sanctuary in 2013 from the Guildford area after her owner had lost the use of her grazing paddock.

Adopt Dizzy

Lady

Lady is a mare donkey born in 2005 with an unusual story about how she came into the sanctuary in 2007. Her equine passport was all in German language and although the full details are not known it seems that Lady came to this country on a German cargo ship and was bought by a dealer.

Adopt Lady

Little Nellie

Little Nellie is a quiet mare donkey who arrived at Island Farm in 2014. Born in 2003, she had been privately owned in Northamptonshire and had been well looked after. Unfortunately, her elderly owner was finding the work involved with keeping a donkey was getting more difficult and he had to find her a new home.

Adopt Little Nellie

Lucas

Lucas came to Island Farm in 2017 at just one week old. His mother rejected him, and although his owner wanted to keep the mare, he didn’t know how to cope with a newborn foal, so he contacted a friend of the sanctuary.

Adopt Lucas

Monty

Monty was born in 1998 and is a dapple grey gelding donkey standing at 11.1 hands. He came into the Sanctuary when he was 3 years old from a private home in the Banbury area because his owner was losing the use of his field.

Adopt Monty

Wendy

Wendy is a beautiful filly foal who was born at the Sanctuary on Thursday 6th April 2017 to Aimee, a chestnut mare donkey about 18 years of age. Aimee came into the Sanctuary in April 2016 with two other mare donkeys, Chloe and Blossom.

Adopt Wendy