Donkey sanctuary launches learning tool

A donkey sanctuary is taking a new approach to highlight the animal’s special needs. CTV’s Ashley Bacon explains.

Anyone looking for some equine education is in luck as a donkey sanctuary in Ontario is launching a new tool to help people better understand the animals.

The Donkey Sanctuary of Canada in Puslinch, Ont. has created an online educational platform to instill standardized practices throughout the donkey community.

“As we continue to learn more about how to properly care for [donkeys], we want to share [the learning tool] with the community of donkey owners so they can continue to support them as their donkeys age,” explained the sanctuary’s education manager, Grace Sant.

Although they may appear similar on the surface to their horse cousins, donkeys have distinctly different needs. The sanctuary’s first video dives deep into the essentials of caring for the animal.

Sant said the first video covers housing needs, how to set up a farm and the kind of vet care donkeys need.

She said each following video will have expert advice on a variety of topics.

The free resource is also getting approval from a professor at the Ontario Veterinary College in Guelph, Ont.

“It’s great for the public to have additional educational resources that are from a good source,” said Amy Lack, an assistant professor at the college. “Especially for animals maybe the public isn’t familiar with, in terms of their care and what their daily needs look like.”

The next video’s focus will be geared towards nutrition. That’s expected to be published in December with additional videos to follow in the new year.