This beautiful lady was found shackled to a cart driven by a 15 year old child in rural Bela-Bela, Limpopo province. Exhausted, emaciated and covered in raw wounds from whip lashings and inhumane harnessing, Missy Sylvia was removed and relocated to a rehabilitation safe-house where she was later surrendered to us. Missy Silvia was re-homed and she is living her best life, surrounded by love and TLC with her guardians Lloreen and Albert (heart icon)

Mercy Following an extensive drone search, Mercy was found in a horrible condition and fighting for her life out in the vast, arid Karoo veldt, many miles from civilization. Infested with blood-sucking louse flies, Mercy had no food, no water and no shelter from the blistering desert sun. We relocated Mercy to the sanctuary where she received many months of critical care from our dedicated rehabilitation team. From death's doorstep to living her best life in our herd of rescues, Mercy is an example of the huge difference that we can make.

With the assistance of our equine network in Prince Albert in the Great Karoo area of South Africa, following an extensive drone search, we found Mercy debilitated and fighting for her life out in the vast, arid Karoo veldt, many miles from civilisation. Infested with blood-sucking louse flies, Mercy had no food, no water and no shelter from the blistering desert sun. We uplifted Mercy and relocated her across to the sanctuary where she received many months of critical care from our dedicated rehabilitation team. Mercy was later surrendered to us and she is living her best life in our herd of rescues. We love Francie and we love you Mercy.

With the assistance of our equine network in Prince Albert, we found Zola with a young foal at foot out in the rough Karoo veldt, many miles. The pair were without food and water, covered in flies, and at the mercy of the elements. We uplifted this mum and baby, and relocated them to the sanctuary where they received extensive critical care from our dedicated rehabilitation team. Surprise! We soon realized that Zola have was also pregnant! 11months later, she gave birth to a beautiful baby boy. Zola and her two boys are part of our fabulous mega herd, and as with most animals, are still very bonded.

"Guard Donkeys" are used to protect flocks of sheep from predators in farming settings. As with so many working animals, guard donkeys are often neglected receiving no supplementary nutrition, shelter or farrier care - this is the story of our Meisie. Following years of neglect guarding sheep on a farm in the Ceres region of South Africa, little Meisie had developed ’slipper-feet’ and she could no longer walk. We drove across the country to collect Meisie, who was later surrendered into our care. Ongoing remedial farrier work and special nutritional care were top priority for our girl, and despite her tough life she had so much love to give. The bones in her feet have partly disintegrated, meaning that our beautiful Meisie is a core member of our Special Care Unit - gracefully living out her remaining days with her companion, our fully blind donk Stevie Wonder. Visit Meisie, Stevie wonder and the rest of our ICU herd on one of our tours.

Frankie was one of the 236 lucky donkeys rescued at the auction for slaughter in Hartswater in January 2017. Frankie’s emaciated and debilitated condition was not uncommon amongst the donkeys we rescued that day but on arrival at the sanctuary, Frankie collapsed and had to be resuscitated by our amazing crew of volunteers on the ground. Now one of the matriarchs of our donkey Mega Herd, Frankie is often seen leading the way out to pasture.