Animal-Kind International helps Blind Love's donkeys and horses (South Africa)
- Animal-Kind International
- 23 hours ago
- 3 min read
Blind Love Association (South Africa) received a 3rd grant from Animal-Kind International, continuing our help for donkeys and horses in South Africa. This time, their grant project, Population Donkey - Protect. Prevent. Preserve, aimed to
humanely reduce and stabilize the working donkey population in Makhanda/ Grahamstown by targeting male donkeys with a contraceptive injection and permanent identification to prevent mass impounding and slaughter.
Philippa (Blind Love Director) told us, "Makhanda/ Grahamstown is facing a donkey welfare crisis, with an estimated 6000 donkeys in town, most of whom play an essential role in their owners' livelihoods. Road accidents and roaming donkeys have resulted in legal threats and court action being taken against the municipality, pushing towards a mass round up of these donkeys. This means owners will permanently lose their animals and the impounded donkeys will be sold for slaughter or into the illegal donkey skin trade. Without intervention the population continues to grow and cause problems."
The vaccine, even though only a temporary means of contraception, was seen as a relatively inexpensive and quick method of addressing what had become an emergency situation in Makhanda. Also, the vaccine would show donkey owners the benefits of contraception and begin building demand for gelding, permanent contraception.
The dry ice brand includes owner details that allow a donkey to be identified when roaming and the owner contacted to collect the donkey. Branding is the best way to protect a donkey against being impounded and worse.
At a Blind Love outreach event in January, four donkey owners requested that their donkeys be gelded rather than given only temporary contraceptive vaccines. That was a very nice surprise-we had expected that donkey owners would need more convincing before they requested permanent contraception
Philippa requested a revision to the grant project to cater to these requests, and we quickly agreed.
In January, we received alarming news from Blind Love about their sanctuary:
"On Sunday 18th disaster struck the sanctuary when an out of control veld fire raged through the farm destroying everything in its path, fueled by gale force winds. Thankfully not one of the rescued animals: 26 donkeys, 12 horses and 2 resident sheep, the house or any human that assisted on the day were hurt, injured or damaged in any way.
Through our 2023 grant program, we had previously supported "The Big Build Project" at the sanctuary and none of the structures funded through that project were damaged.
In the midst of the disaster, Philippa and Blind Love continued the Population Donkey Project. From the start of the project in September into May, Blind Love branded 311 donkeys, gave 112 contraceptive injections, and gelded 16 donkeys!
Blind Love's project received so much attention-as the 1st of its kind in South Africa- that they were able to secure more funding locally to continue the branding, injections, and gelding!
Going back to January and the fire damage to the sanctuary--we couldn't turn our backs on Blind Love during their time of need. We were able to raise additional funds to help the donkeys and horses at the Blind Love-South Africa sanctuary.
Philippa wrote, "During the month of Feb, thanks to the disaster top up funds from AKI, much needed additional feed was purchased for our resident 26 donkeys and 12 horses. Feed was purchased from Equifeed in Port Elizabeth: Golden Years for our resident oldies, maintenance pellets, high fibre cubes & meal for our horses prone to laminitis & Cushings, and drought cubes which are lower in protein for our donkeys. Teff and lucerne hay bales were also purchased from the Agriland coops in Bathurst & Port Alfred as the grazing was all burnt in the fire."
As things started to return to normal, Philippa wrote, "This has been an absolute god send. Feed and fencing bills have been massive. Thankfully this week we should be done with the donkeys' boundary fence and they will be able to go out into their big field. And the grass has started to come up nicely since the fire."
