Donkeys move in with 150 cats

Three donkeys are to make their home alongside 150 moggies at an animal centre in Sussex.
Donkeys at Cat's Protection's national adoption centre in Chelwood Gate SUS-160629-120247001Donkeys at Cat's Protection's national adoption centre in Chelwood Gate SUS-160629-120247001
Donkeys at Cat's Protection's national adoption centre in Chelwood Gate SUS-160629-120247001

The unlikely pairing is all part of a new partnership between animal charities Cats Protection and The Donkey Sanctuary.

The donkeys - Twinkle, Holly and Star - are now settling into their new paddock at the Cat’s Protection’s National Cat Centre in Chelwood Gate having moved there from the Donkey Sanctuary in Sidmouth Devon where they have lived for the past four years.

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Cats Protection spokeswoman Tanya Vigus said the charity was thrilled to welcome the donkeys to the site, in a rural spot in Ashdown Forest.

She said: “We are always keen to work alongside other animal charities which share our beliefs and hopes for a better world for all animals.

“We’re thrilled to welcome Twinkle, Star and Holly to our headquarters and we know they will be much-loved by both visitors and staff alike.

“We very much hope that the partnership will promote the respective rehoming schemes of both charities.”

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The Donkey Sanctuary’s Welfare Adviser for Sussex Mark Kerr, said: “These lovely three donkeys had quite a challenging start to life before coming in to our care and now that they are fully recovered I am delighted to see them settling in to their new home. They’re such friendly, inquisitive donkeys that I know they will adore the attention from all the animal-loving visitors at Cats Protection.

“A number of our Donkey Sanctuary farms in Devon have also rehomed much-loved cats from Cats Protection and they are really popular with visitors and staff.”

Cats Protection’s National Cat Centre is home to the UK’s largest cat rehoming centre and currently houses 150 moggies looking for new homes.

Cats Protection is the UK’s largest cat charity, helping around 200,000 cats and kittens every year through a national network of over 250 volunteer-run branches and 32 centres.

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The Donkey Sanctuary supports projects to alleviate the suffering of donkeys in 35 countries worldwide, including sanctuaries across Europe, where more than 18,800 donkeys and mules have been cared for, and major projects in Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Kenya and Mexico, where donkey welfare is improved through community education and veterinary work.