Cecil was so weak when we rescued him that he had to be carried to the emergency vehicle where he collapsed onto the lorry floor; we reached him just in time.

Left to scavenge for their own food and surviving off the land, Cecil and his close friends, Eli and Dipsy, became desperately malnourished, losing so much weight that their ribs could be seen through their dishevelled coats. Unloved and uncared for, the inseparable trio had no shelter and endured day and night in the open air, left to suffer the extremes of the harsh winter and the torrential rain storms of recent months. Their coats became heavy and sodden with the rain and their legs infected with a nasty bacterial infection called "Mud Fever" due to the water-logged ground. Without each other, their suffering would have been unbearable.

 At just two years old, Eli, Cecil and Dipsy had been pushed to the limit of their endurance and were exhausted from their long ordeal. When we rescued them they slept and slept, knowing they were safe at last. They needed extra special care; their diets supplemented with additional nutritious feeds, their long hooves trimmed by the farrier, and their sore, lice-infested skin relieved by medicated baths. They were given a cosy stable to shelter from the wind, rain and extreme cold and their hind legs which were raw in places due to the scalding effects of the rain, immediately began to improve.

Now, the devoted trio are recovering well; adjusting to their new lives, safe and happy together at last in a loving home. Thanks to you, they are guaranteed sanctuary for life.

Sadly, there are many more donkeys still living in intolerable conditions and suffering unimaginable cruelty who also need a second chance. As we were going to press with this appeal, we rescued donkeys Daniela, George, Alexander and Louis within days of each other. Daniela had been abandoned by her owner in Romania, left to starve with a painful, deep wound on her leg and George, Alexander and Louis, three young donkeys who we named after His Royal Highness Prince George, had been left to run wild along busy roads in Northern Ireland, risking serious injury to themselves and others. Thankfully, your continued support allowed our emergency teams to reach these donkeys and to bring them into our care.

Thank you for donating to donkeys in need. Every single donation we receive makes a difference. You might like to consider setting up a regular donation by Direct Debit if you haven't already done so. Direct Debits allow us to plan for the future whilst also reducing our administration costs. Alternatively, you can choose to make a single donation. Either way, your valuable support allows us to continue putting the lives of donkeys first, second and third.

On behalf of all your friends here at The Donkey Sanctuary, four-legged ones included, thank you for your support, we are most grateful.

Please rest assured that every single donation received, no matter how small, will help more donkeys like Cecil, Eli and Dipsy.