After many years as an adoption donkey, one of The Donkey Sanctuary’s best-loved donkeys is finally retiring. Little Vijay has been a part of many people’s lives for more than ten years now and will be sadly missed on the adoption scheme.
Our loyal friend is starting to get a little elderly having recently celebrated his 21st birthday, and our team of vets have become concerned about his health. He’s not eating a great deal and is a bit more withdrawn than usual.
Our experts reassure us that Little Vijay is in no immediate danger, but that it is advisable that he enjoys some peace and quiet at his home at Beach Boxes in the heart of the Sidmouth Sanctuary where visitors can continue to pop in and see him.
Little Vijay has touched so many people’s lives, helping children with additional needs for many years at the donkey assisted therapy centre at the Sidmouth Sanctuary, and meeting all the wonderful adopters who have visited his paddock.
Little Vijay was born at The Donkey Sanctuary in 1994. His mother, Rosemary, and her daughter had been relinquished to our Irish Donkey Sanctuary in County Cork as their elderly owner could no longer cope. Some months later they were brought over to the UK Donkey Sanctuary where, on 24 April 1994, Rosemary gave birth to a colt foal; the 6,079th donkey to be in the Sanctuary’s care. Dr Svendsen decided to name him Little Vijay in recognition of Dr Vijay Varma, a vet who helped donkeys in Kenya before The Donkey Sanctuary began work there. Now that he has reached the ripe old age of 21, it’s time for us to give back to him to acknowledge the years he has given.
We have lots of elderly donkeys in our care, just like Little Vijay, who all need specialist care from our vets and farm staff.