Hee Haw!

As you may have guessed from the title, this post is about donkeys!

Today is World Donkey Day!

This comes at a time when donkeys are facing increasing danger from....guess who? The same people who believe that rhino horn can help with sexual enjoyment and are happy to receive poached horn, the same people who enjoy smuggling abalone out of the country, the same people who will happily eat dogs and cats, the same people who are extremely friendly with the government of this country.

Are you with me? Nudge nudge wink wink.

Donkey skin seems to be the next item on their Shopping List and they don't care how it is obtained. These gentle animals are subjected to unspeakable pain and suffering. Skinning alive seems to be the quickest way to obtain the skin and sadly in South Africa, money speaks louder than any human kindness to many people. I don't care how poor or hungry a person is, there is absolutely no excuse or reason for cruelty to any animal. Or child.

Sickening. (All photos thanks to Karoo Donkey Sanctuary fb page)

Animal Rights in South Africa? Poof, non existent. Our Animal Rescue groups have virtually no monetary help and rely only on private donations. They do an amazing job, but they are literally farting against thunder.

But, back to donkeys!

Waiting for death.

A few months ago there was a horrific 'Auction' of donkeys and horses in the Northern Cape at a place called Hartswater. There, hundreds of animals were squashed into pens with no food, no water. Some were in foal, some had their foals with them, some were horribly injured, and all were destined for slaughter.

Unless they were saved!

And most of them were.

The Karoo Donkey Sanctuary (find them on facebook or google them and read all about it) raced to the rescue. From there, the rescued donkeys were transported to the Sanctuary by huge carriers who donated their time, money and trucks to help. Fodder was donated and transported by farmers from both near and far.

Ready to load the rescued donkeys.

These Auctions are held quite regularly I believe. But before the Hartswater one was so widely exposed, I had no idea that this could happen. In South Africa? No surely not. (We also have a major dog fighting problem where dogs are stolen for breeding and fighting and small dogs and cats are stolen to be used for bait. Sickening? Yes..... )

Bales of hay delivered for the lucky ones.

Many countries in Africa have banned the slaughter of donkeys and the sale of the skins. Niger, Ethiopia, Botswana and Burkina Faso to name a few.

And South Africa? We should be hanging our collective head in shame.

We are still waiting for any action or condemnation of this cruel and despicable practice .

To the sanctuaries like Karoo Donkey and Eseltjierus in the Western Cape, a huge Thank You. Without people who work so tirelessly for the donkeys of our country, more skins would find their way overseas.

I leave you with the photo that sums it all up.......

(Pic thanks to Google)