Yorkshire donkey with overgrown and twisted hooves is rescued

The Donkey Sanctuary has rescued a donkey whose hooves were so overgrown they’d become twisted

Following a call from a concerned member of the public in March 2021, Donkey Welfare Adviser Adele Crompton arrived at an address near Huddersfield in West Yorkshire, where she discovered a nine-year-old donkey (Puzzle), suffering with extremely overgrown hooves. Puzzle lived with two other donkeys named Quiz and Wizard, who were also suffering from overgrown hooves in a muddy paddock, surrounded by broken fencing and barbed wire. The neglected donkeys were cold and wet due to a lack of adequate shelter, and the Adele could see that they all need urgent veterinary and farriery care.

Adele said: “The first thing I noticed was the state of Puzzle’s feet. I couldn’t believe how he was moving around with such overgrown and twisted hooves. They’d grown so long, especially his hind feet and I noticed that he was walking on the backs of his heels.”

However, Adele explains that it wasn’t just Puzzle who needed urgent attention. “Quiz and Wizard’s hooves were also in poor condition. Wizard had a big chunk of her hoof missing and the hoof looked deformed. Quiz’s front feet were starting to twist inwards, and he appeared to be in discomfort when standing. I knew we needed to intervene quickly to get the donkeys the pain relief and treatment they so desperately needed.”

Once Adele had assessed the health and welfare of each donkey from outside their paddock, she enlisted the help of the RSPCA to make contact with their owner. The Covid-19 pandemic had affected the owner’s circumstances, and other priorities meant they’d only been able to provide the donkeys with food and water. It was agreed that it was in the best interest of the animals to relinquish them into the care of The Donkey Sanctuary. The donkeys were transported to one of the charity’s holding bases, where they were provided with a warm, dry shelter, nutritious food and much-needed veterinary and farriery attention.

Adele said: “Despite all they’d been through, two-year-olds Quiz and Wizard were still so trusting and friendly, whereas Puzzle was a little nervous.”

The donkeys’ condition has since improved, but it’ll be a long journey until they’re fully recovered.  A spokesperson for the holding base said: “Puzzle, Quiz and Wizard are doing very well and have become interested in their surroundings and are keen to interact with people. However, they still have a long way to go. Puzzle and Quiz’s hooves were very deformed, so it will take time for them to fully recover.”