Budding friendship for Blossom and Jenny

Blossom, a 21-year-old donkey, shared a field with her companion named Poppy in County Cork. Her situation was brought to our attention in October 2024 when our Donkey Welfare Adviser Clody O’Connor was contacted by Blossom and Poppy’s owners to try and improve their standard of care.

Clody says: “The two donkeys were handed over to the owners who didn’t have much knowledge about caring for equines and had no prior experience with donkeys.

“The owners wanted to provide a better life for these animals, and they were happy to accept our help and guidance.

“I could see that Poppy was imbalanced when moving around, and a closer inspection revealed that she was dealing with the painful hoof condition known as laminitis.

“It was also noticeable how underweight Poppy was. It was clear that being continually exposed to the elements was taking a toll on her body.

“She had discharge continuously pouring from her nose and was in an extremely worrying state.”

After a thorough examination by a local vet, it was suggested to Poppy’s owners that the most humane decision would be to gently put her to sleep. Poppy was in pain and was suffering from her numerous health complications.

Her owners agreed, and understanding Blossom’s needs, they decided to prioritise her overall wellbeing and agreed for us to place her in a more suitable environment where she would be matched with a new donkey companion.

A new home for Blossom

Clody says: “I had been in contact with a private home who were looking for a suitable companion for their 16-year-old donkey named Jenny.

“Since losing her companion, Jenny had been living with a pony, and although some donkeys will bond with horses and ponies, they prefer the company of other donkeys.

“In just a short amount of time, the two donkeys were inseparable and formed such a strong bond. It was clear right away that Blossom and Jenny were perfect companions.”

Blossom’s life has been transformed thanks to the owners who reached out to us for advice. With your unwavering support, we could extend our help to three donkeys and two households during their time of need.