A Sad Farewell To Gretel (December 12, 2011)
When Gretel came to us about 4 years ago with Hansel she was in such a bad state that it was suggested that she be put down. She couldn't eat and she couldn't stand but there was something about her and her lovely soft brown eyes that made us want to fight for her.
Gretel on arrival at the Sanctuary
She had come over from Belgium and had obviously had a very hard life so we went to work. The equine dentist sorted out her teeth so she could bite and our excellent farrier got to work on her horrible hoofs which were turning up at the ends and needed to be expertly cut back so she could walk. Her coat was scurvy and the vet devised a serious deworming program for her and her companion Hansel. She did get much better but still found walking a problem so our farrier advised remedial shoes which he fitted every six weeks and which made a very real difference to her ability to walk. We must thank all of you who helped with the cost of those expensive shoes and who made such a difference to her quality of life.
Gretel - Open Weekend 2011
Unfortunately, there is a saying the Donkey Sanctuary has and that is that with donkeys their feet often give out before they do and so it has been with Gretel. Arthritis in her joints in spite of an infra red light over her bed was making her ability to walk more and more difficult and she was lying down more and more.
Today it was obvious to us that she was in pain and just did not want to go on so- very reluctantly and with great sadness- it was decided that we had to say goodbye to her. It is always awful when a sweet animal like Gretel dies but we can take some comfort in the knowledge that we probably gave her the four happiest years of her life. She was much loved and a favourite with volunteers and abc friends alike and will be very much missed. We thought Hansel would be very upset but so far he is ok. She had separated herself from him for some time, forcing him to spend time with his Shetland friends, so hopefully it has not been the shock to him that we were concerned it would be.
Gretel - happy and enjoying her remaining years at the Sanctuary
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