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The Isle of Wight Donkey Sanctuary's

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A courtyard with picnic tables outside of a cafe with the words music in the courtyard
25 Mar, 2024
Music in the courtyard
By abigail.fox 21 Mar, 2024
Date: Sunday, 5th May Time: 11am to 3pm
A cup and cake on a table in the courtyard outside of a cafe with the words join our team
12 Mar, 2024
We currently have a job vacancy for a Food & Beverage Assistant. Contract Type: Casual Contract Hours: Various hours including weekend. Rate: Up to £11.44 per hours Reporting to: Café Manager As a Food and Beverage Assistant, you will play a vital role in delivering exceptional service to our guests. Working closely with the Café Manager and other team members, you will ensure that our customers have a memorable experience. The skills we need: • Experience working in a fast paced, busy environment; • Experience basic food preparation, front of house experience; • Enthusiastic approach to work; • Food Hygiene certificate or willing to work towards; • Excellent verbal and written communication skills; • Problem-solving skills and ability to work on own initiative; • Ability to manage and respond to customer needs and feedback; • Working in target driven environment; • Working on the till, card machine, cashing up; • Ability to work as part of a team. For a full list of your duties, benefits that we can offer, and to apply, please visit: https://isleofwightjobs.com/job/Charity-Voluntary/food_and_beverage_assistant/ Applications close on 27 March, but may close sooner if an applicant is successful.
Three donkeys with their heads over a gate
07 Mar, 2024
Thank you for the love and generous support you give our animals and our sanctuary. We're extremely grateful - your help really does support the care and well-being of our precious companions. Animal adoption changes We’ve made some changes to the number of donkeys, ponies and mules available for adoption and we wanted to let you know why we’ve done this. We know that adopting an animal can be like welcoming a new family member. It’s special. We want to do our best to make sure your relationship with your donkey and the Isle of Wight Donkey Sanctuary is happy and long lasting. We also want to make sure that your adopted animal is sociable and happy to be around people when you visit. Donkey welfare at our heart Our yard team work so closely with all the animals and have spent time carefully reviewing their records and behaviour. We have decided to remove some donkeys from the adoption process due to their age, health issues or because they are not yet confident enough to be constantly in the public eye. We’re delighted to say that there are still over 50 animals available for adoption. This includes plenty of characters who love the limelight and who will be only too happy to grab the attention! With the welfare of our animals at the heart of all we do, we wanted to be open with you about why we’ve made the changes we have. Please note, if you are already adopting a donkey who is no longer available for new adoptions you will still be able to renew the adoption and keep in touch with them. Find your favourite and start your adoption journey today. If your favourite donkey isn’t on the adoption list, why not make a donation to support them. If you prefer you could treat them to something special from our Amazon Wishlist .
Two donkeys stood in a field with shelter behind them
10 Dec, 2023
In September the Isle of Wight Donkey Sanctuary welcomed two new donkeys, Theo and Noah. However, poor Theo was extremely ill and had been diagnosed with colic. He had received veterinary care with his previous owners but was quickly deteriorating. Needing urgent surgery, The Isle of Wight Donkey Sanctuary agreed to take Theo and his companion Noah into their care. With no equine hospital on the Isle of Wight, Theo and his best friend Noah, made the trip by ferry to the mainland for emergency surgery. During surgery one foot of Theo’s intestine was removed. He was desperately ill and needed a plasma transfusion. Proving that everyone, including the donkeys, at the Sanctuary will go above and beyond to care for their animals, three strong young geldings Major, Thomas and Eiffion donated blood. Staff raced to get catch the ferry to the mainland and get the blood to Theo as quickly as possible. The next day however, Theo went downhill and another emergency operation was deemed necessary, this time part of his colon was removed, and he was fighting for his life. With more blood transfusions needed the staff at Wroxall took geldings Leighton and Trevor over to the Equine Hospital on the mainland as quickly as they could. To everyone’s relief, the second operation and blood transfusion was a huge success. After a period of rest at the Equine Hospital, Theo and Noah returned to the Island where Theo has been slowly building his strength. His recovery will be a long process, but alongside his best friend Noah, these two will be cared for at the Sanctuary for their rest of their lives.  The Sanctuary are so impressed with Theo’s outstanding recovery that they are happy to announce that both Theo and Noah are now available to adopt! Susan McCall, Isle of Wight Donkey Sanctuary CEO said. "Theo really is our own miracle in a stable. He was gravely ill, but we knew we needed to give him every chance to survive. The staff at the Sanctuary have been outstanding in their care and attention and we can’t thank the team and Vectis Vets and Liphook Equine Hospital enough. With everyone, including the donkeys, working together Theo has made a miraculous recovery to the point where I’m thrilled to say he is now available to adopt” She continues - “Adoptions are the backbone of the Sanctuary’s fundraising. Supporters who adopt our animals ensure they can receive the love and attention they need to live a happy and healthy life. It's not only Theo and Noah available to adopt, each of the hero donkey’s that helped with Theo’s miraculous recovery, as well as 100 other unique animals, can be adopted too!” Adoptions start at just £25 and include an adoption certificate, a special biography all about your chosen donkey as well as additional images. Adopters also receive a special newsletter twice a year full to the brim with Sanctuary information. More details of Theo and Noah’s brave story can be found at: www.iowdonkeysanctuary.org/news/theo-noah To adopt Theo, Noah or any of the other animals living at the Isle of Wight Donkey Sanctuary visit: www.iowdonkeysanctuary.org/meet-the-donkeys
donkey with bandages and a drip
17 Sep, 2023
Theo & Noah
Crowd of people at christmas fair
08 Sep, 2023
Attention all stall holders!
two donkey in a field with alpacas watching them
07 Aug, 2023
Isle of Wight Donkey Sanctuary launches a donkey rehoming scheme.
Two brown donkeys at the Isle of Wight Donkey Sanctuary
27 Mar, 2023
On the evening of Saturday 25th, very peacefully, we said goodbye to our much loved donkeys, Jill and Angelica. Both Jill and Angelica had been closely monitored for a while and both had various health issues that were causing concern. On Saturday, they both let us know that it was their time to go. Jill has been part of the OAP herd for many years and has enjoyed meeting visitors over the time she has lived at the Sanctuary. In her later years, Jill was unable to eat as well as our younger donkeys due to dental and other internal issues, and was regularly served a selection of watered down sugar beet and grass nuts from her special feed bowl - which was raised off the ground to make feeding easier for her. She also enjoyed pushing her way to the front of the medicine scoop queue, even if she had already had hers! She insisted she have more, even trying to nibble the staff to persuade them, but this didn't work very well and she had very few teeth left to use, so it was more of a gummy kiss. As well as trying to have all the medication scoops, Jill loved a relaxing massage from our physiotherapist. Despite her age related stiffness, she would often enjoy trotting around the field with the other OAP's, as if she was a youngster again. Jill was a joy to be around and will be deeply missed. In consultation with our vet, surrounded by our dedicated farm team, Jill was helped to pass. We also said goodbye to our beloved little mini mischief Angelica. Angelica may have been one of our smallest donkeys but she certainly was one of the biggest characters on site! She was always the first to let us know when we were late with her feed, and when she had finished her feed, she would often pick up her bowl to show staff that she had finished…we’re sure she was asking for a second portion to be brought to her. Angelica enjoyed taking part in activities and regularly attended community events – where we take donkeys to different locations within the local community and generally bring smiles to all that the donkeys meet. Angelica loved being centre of attention, and adored meeting people. Angelica’s pretty name could fool people – she was angelic and also had a mischievous side - she would often seize any opportunity she could to sneak through an open gate! Affectionately known by staff as Jellybean, our little Angelica passed peacefully on Saturday evening, surrounded by our vet, our dedicated team and her mini herd friends – Bella, Wizzy and Geraldine. She received the very best of care and will be greatly missed. Our team display such love and care for all of our animals and it is brings great sadness when we lose any of our beloved animals. We do however have many happy memories to remind us of our lovely donkeys. Rest in peace, beautiful Angelica and Jill.
man standing with a dog in front of gate with donkeys behind
24 Mar, 2023
Leaving a Lovely Gift We received a lovely letter from Clare Roberts, who was writing to us about her husband, John. John was in a care home and his health wasn't very good, so in November last year, Clare decided to bring Christmas forward for him and adopt Rosie Lee as a gift. Rosie Lee's photo was framed so that John could see her, and he adored her. Sadly, John passed away on Christmas day. As John had such a love for donkeys, his funeral donations were in support of us here at the IOW Donkey Sanctuary. We received £300 to go towards our Equine Clinic Appeal, and Clare has decided to continue the adoption of Rosie Lee in his memory. Clare sent us this photo of John with their dog, Scampi, at the sanctuary from when they used to live on the Isle of Wight. Thank you John and Clare for your kindness and continued support. We can continue to care for our donkeys because of people like you.
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