Happy end of the donkey
Christmas story 2024
Let me start by writing a few words about Christmas before I tell you about the happy ending of a group of donkeys from Italy whose life story resembles a horror film.
Christmas – The Holy Night, the night when the Christ Child comes … and all will be well on earth
Christmas – brings back childhood memories. Suddenly it smells of incense, vanilla crescents and nut macaroons, of food that mum is preparing. People wait until a little bell rings: “The Christ Child is here!”.
Even the coolest people furtively wipe away a small tear when the family or, if the family members are not in such a good mood vocally, a CD, sings the most beautiful song in the world: “Silent night, holy night …”.
While I sing this wonderful song, the year and many experiences with the animals run before my eyes. Gut Aiderbichl was once again able to rescue hundreds of animals from emergency situations. For the animal rescuers, there were moments when they had to show good nerves and a lot of strength when it came to saving the animals.
54 donkeys lived in terrible conditions
Animal hoarding doesn't stop at donkeys either
Location of the action – the property of a donkey owner in Italy.
The animal welfare organisation “Horse Angels” bought 54 donkeys free before they would have been taken to the slaughterhouse.
The tragic story began with a few pairs of donkeys. An uncontrolled tragedy took its course – the donkeys multiplied uncontrollably and the actually animal-loving owner was completely overwhelmed by the situation. Financial problems brought him to his knees and the donkeys were left to their fate. Bad and sad. But what was even worse was that their owner, despite his helpless situation, did not want to give up the donkeys – to bring them to safety. The owner was an animal hoarder: an animal hoarder who keeps more animals than he can care for.
The donkeys were suffering and had probably resigned themselves to their miserable fate. They were standing in their own faeces, their hooves had not been cared for in years and were badly overgrown. They could only walk with pain. The donkeys’ bodies were full of wounds, the animals were emaciated and their coats were marked accordingly. It was a sight that even the animal rescuers at Gut Aiderbichl could hardly bear to see.
Gut Aiderbichl was able to give 14 donkeys a new forever home
Gut Aiderbichl took over the 14 donkeys without hesitation. Of these, two donkey mares, Simona and one-year-old Franca, went to their new forever home at Gut Aiderbichl in Henndorf. The other twelve donkeys went to the Ballermann Ranch, an animal sanctuary of Gut Aiderbichl, in Germany. At Gut Aiderbichl, the donkeys can now recover from the stresses and strains of their previous lives and regain their confidence.
The unspeakable suffering is over
Sunny is Simona's great happiness
Simona’s hooves were in the best hands with the Aiderbichl farrier and she slowly became pain-free when standing and walking. Simona and Franca’s fur began to grow back and the good food, love and care that the two donkeys received from their animal carers restored their trust in humans faster than they had hoped.
One morning in autumn, Simona suddenly gave birth to a healthy donkey girl: SUNNY. Simona is a wonderful donkey mum, her eyes are always on the lookout for her little Sunny. Cuddly soft fur, long, slender legs with small hooves, long ears that hear everything and big saucer eyes that are just getting to know life – this is our great joy – donkey baby Sunny.
What a wonderful happy ending for neglected donkeys, who can now live safe, protected and loved lives at Gut Aiderbichl.
We wish you a Merry Christmas with this story. Let’s hope that many people understand the message of Christmas and are guided by it.
From: Gisela Pschenitschnig, Gut Aiderbichl
