Donkey Shelter Tongala

26/11/2024

The importance of dental care for donkeys
As with humans, the health of a donkey’s mouth impacts the health of its body.
A recent tragedy with a Donkey Shelter donkey highlights this.
Jade, a Shelter donkey living on a carer property, had her regular visit from a local equine dentist. Since his visit she had developed a massive facial swelling from an abscess in her mouth, had stopped eating and drinking, and was deteriorating rapidly. The local vet had lanced the abscess and given her antibiotics, but she made no improvement, and they were suggesting euthanasia.
I felt that she needed an emergency admission to the Goulburn Valley Equine Hospital if she were to have any chance at recovering. This was arranged and the carer brought her in. She was dehydrated, in early renal failure, with raised fat content in her blood and a painful bowel. She was also in a lot of pain. They moved heaven and earth and in twenty four hours her vital signs stabilised. However, during the night, her face became more swollen, and she had trouble breathing. Donkeys can't breathe through their mouths, only through their noses, and the swelling had reduced her nostrils to slits.
She had an emergency tracheotomy and then went to surgery for an oral examination. This had been impossible while she was awake due to the swelling of her face and tongue. During the examination the GV vets found that she had extensive gum disease, and because of this the equine dentist should not have proceeded, and instead should have referred her for treatment by a specialist. When the abscess was lanced, bacteria from the gum disease was able to enter her bloodstream, setting off a deadly progression of extensive infection, despite the antibiotics. Sadly, the kindest thing to do was to let her go.
The photos in this post are confronting, but I think it’s necessary to show how much suffering was caused by sub-standard care, and how important the health of the mouth is to the entire body. Prior to the visit by the dentist Jade had suffered from an episode of laminitis, which may have been a stress response to the chronic gum infection.
If you know anyone who has donkeys or other equines, please show this post to them. If it helps just one animal to avoid the same fate, Jade’s suffering and death will have had at least some measure of meaning.
Jade is now at peace and will receive a plaque in our Memorial Garden. The carer remains grief stricken. She did the best she could, as did we all, but the damage was just too bad.
May

24/09/2024

A huge thanks to May and the Donkey Shelter for a great stay at Tongala in the new accommodation facility. It exceeded all my expectations. Warm, cozy, living area, a comfy bed, full kitchen facilities, and views of the donkeys from every window, even from the shower! Such a special and unique experience.
We had sunset views from our bedroom window, and I watched the sun go down, patting dear Amos. I first met Amos in January 2020 on our only past visit to the Shelter having previously received his sponsorship as a gift for Christmas. We have continued this and although we have loved hearing how he’s going, it was quite something else to spend that time with him and to find ourselves literally sleeping next to his paddock.
We enjoyed the occasional Donkey braying which is music to my ears and woke to see the donkeys getting their morning brekkie. We then enjoyed more donkey tales and patted more donkeys that I could have hoped for.
It was a perfect mini break & escape from the hustle of the city, and we paired with a trip to the nearby cactus Gardens less than an hour away. …But the Donkey Shelter stay was the main game, and the donkeys were of course the highlight!
It was lovely meeting you May ! Thank you for your hospitality, your indomitable spirit and for the incredible work you do for these wonderful animals. We look forward to visiting & staying again in the future.
Jo & Peter

05/09/2024

SCAMMER ALERT:
May Dodd has been contacted by someone trying to buy miniature donkeys.
The Donkey Shelter Tongala does not breed or sell any donkeys and we do not have any miniatures at all.
There is a scammer using our identity to try and extort money. They are asking for a deposit and using Donkey Shelter Tongala as their cover.
The scammer calls herself Olivia Ava with a property called Hooves and Hayfarm. All likely fictitious.
If we get any more information we'll update this post.
Thanks Ken Dunn

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08/08/2024

Sarcoid Tumours
These are malignant tumours that donkeys sometimes have. They can occur anywhere on the body, head or legs. Although they are malignant, they are slow growing and slow to metastasize. Due to this, and the fact that they have poor healing ability, the standard treatment is to do nothing. You should only intervene if there is any change in them, such as growth, which is the most common. This means that any change in size is significant and should be discussed with your vet.
Over the years, I have seen maybe three cases. That was until a few years ago, when I brought in fourteen donkeys from a deceased estate. They all had sarcoid tumours but none quite so bad as Lumpy. He had a collection of tumours at the base of his throat, measuring about 10 inches by 8 inches. The size and position was significant. I elected just to observe for any changes.
This happened during the summer, when he managed to open the bottom of the mass while scratching on the fence. One tumour in the mass was now hanging down and the prognosis was not good. He was only about ten years old and otherwise healthy, so I decided to have him reviewed at the Goulburn Valley Equine Hospital. They were quite shocked at the size of the mass.
They had him reviewed by a surgeon, but due to its position he felt he could only remove some of the mass. We discussed euthanasia, but then one of the vets approached me about discussing Lumpy with a retired vet in the UK who specialised in sarcoid tumours in donkeys.
To my surprise, he thought he could help and suggested chemotherapy. As this was Lumpy's last chance, I thought we should give it a go. He arranged for chemotherapy paste to be sent from the USA to the GVE hospital, as due to its radioactivity the application had to be done there.
After the first application of the paste, a red line of demarcation began to develop around the tumour between it and the healthy tissue. Once it joined, the outer area fell off. Unfortunately, behind it were more tumours. In the end Lumpy was in hospital for fourteen months and had six rounds of treatment, and thankfully all the tumours eventually fell off.
He came home looking more handsome than ever. That was eighteen months ago and there is no sign of regrowth. I monitor him every day. Should regrowth occur he would have more chemotherapy.
This would be far less traumatic because it will be done early before things get out of control.
Thanks to the generosity of our supporters Lumpy is enjoying life today!
May

30/06/2024

Over the years, I have brought in donkeys, both Jacks and Jennies, who have been kept together in the same paddock. This is a dangerous arrangement and is often done under the misunderstanding that it resembles what occurs in the wild.

This is not the case. In their own desert environment, donkeys exist in small herds with one main Jack. As jack foals mature they may try to take over the herd and challenge the main Jack. Their option, if they challenge, is either to win, be killed, or be evicted from the herd.

Having several Jacks living with Jennies in the same paddock, or even having Jennies nearby, can and does lead to potential mortal combat. Jacks who survive these situations carry severe injuries. They fight to the death, by either ripping the throat out, or by exsanguination caused by ripping off the testicles. Below are some examples of injuries resulting from fighting.

These Jacks often have torn or missing ears where they have put their heads down to protect their throats, or extensive scarring on the inner thighs where they have defended against testicle removal. This is a bloody situation to witness, and in my opinion is utterly cruel.
May

This story was inspired by our beloved Jack, Brutus.
He is the chocolate brown donkey in these photos. Notice the missing ear and tail.
It's taken quite a while to get Brutus calmed down enough so our farrier, Mick Dempsey can trim his hooves. He now realises he's getting a pedicure. That's so good.

27/05/2024

Astrid RIP ❤

When Astrid came into the yard for her hoof trim and worming, I noticed that she had dropped quite a lot of weight. I recalled that last year she also came in for additional feeding through the winter months. On closer inspection I saw that she had a green discharge from both nostrils. I thought she may have a chest infection and called the local vet. She was unable to attend but told for me to go to the practice to pick up some antibiotics.

I put her into a stable, gave her a bowl of food, and went to get some water. When I returned, all the food that she had gobbled down was pouring out of her nose. I should mention at this point that equines cannot vomit. Any regurgitated food comes down their nose. It was clear that the food had not had enough time to get to her stomach, so both Mick and I thought she may have a blockage in her oesophagus.

I called the equine hospital and took her in immediately. They passed a gastroscope down her oesophagus, and we could see that her stomach was full of rotting food. They washed this out via a naso-gastric tube, inserted an intravenous line and administered fluids, and she was observed overnight.

Over the next two days, the vets began to slowly re-feed her, but every time they did, the food came back, despite an empty stomach. She was diagnosed with a neurodegenerative disorder, where her stomach could not digest her food intake. There is no cure for this. Astrid had to be put to sleep as the only humane thing we could do.

May ❤🌹

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11/05/2024

Thanks so much everyone for the offers of help and support.
Our Facebook account is untouched. We administrator that down in Melbourne.
I'm hoping May can get some professional help from an IT company in Shepperton.
Cheers Ken Dunn

11/05/2024

Good evening everyone,
I've just had a conversation with May, she has been hacked so her email has been compromised.
This explains why people have been getting suspicious emails.
We don't know when she will get technical support to resolve this. We'll keep you informed.
Ken Dunn

07/04/2024

This is not the first time Kinglake West CFA has helped with donkeys. ❤️
They helped me with a donkey named Cathlene, now passed away. 🌹
May

25/03/2024

Mick Dempsey has been our farrier for almost 26 years. He was recommended to me, when the Shelter was located in Diamond Creek, by my fencer, Dennis. Dennis only did fencing so he could finance the upkeep of his own horses.
When I first called Mick to see if he could take on the donkeys, his wife answered my call with "mission impossible". I didn't understand it at the time but much later realized that it was a busy time for their family as they were competing at the Royal Melbourne Show. Anyway, it all turned out in the end.
For the first few years, Mick was a very quiet man who mainly answered with “yes” or “no”, but as our working relationship advanced we now talk endlessly! We share an interest in tennis, so the Australian Open is a hot topic in January.
In his earlier life, Mick had been a long distance truck driver, which meant he was away from home a great deal. This, together with his own interest in horses, led him to approach his brother-in-law for an apprenticeship to become a farrier. It is a full-time 4-year apprenticeship, which, like all apprenticeships, is not very well paid. To support his family during these years, Mick had an evening job to make ends meet.
It seems to me that Mick has always been a worker and always turns up no matter what the weather. We have worked together in all sorts of conditions, including storms and 40-degree heat. He always looks as fresh as a daisy while I look like something the cat has dragged in! Over the years we have often discussed all the calls I get from people trying to get a farrier for their donkeys. There is a reluctance by farriers to see donkeys. Mick feels that the main issue is the low size of the donkeys compared to horses. The continual crouching is not good for the farrier's back.
When I decided to sell Diamond Creek and move to Tongala, I thought I might have to find a new farrier, but no, Mick drives up early on a Tuesday morning and away we go. Recently, he has talked about retirement which brought storm clouds on the horizon for me, but no, I will be the last client to go when the time comes.
He is very gifted and knowledgeable about equines, but I only learnt this over time. There are many tricks to the trade with less cooperative equines and Mick knows them all! As you can imagine, some of the donkeys in our care have survived terrible owners, so trust is an issue with them. However, I can always rely on Mick to find a way. In more recent times, he has become involved with other aspects of Shelter, including coming with me to help with the more difficult rescue situations, for which I am forever grateful. He also does the feet of some of my donkeys in carer homes.
The donkeys have been fortunate to have Mick as their farrier, and so have I.
May

08/01/2024

ANNEXE BOOKINGS

Our annexe accommodation is now available for bookings.
1 double Bedroom
1 twin single Bedroom
Kitchen - Lounge - Dining area - Bathroom - Laundry - Parking area

The only dates not available are:
Feb 5th to 9th and April 23rd to May 5th.

email: [email protected]
Phone: 03 5859 1410 (leave a message)

02/01/2024

PUBLIC NOTICE
The Donkey Shelter Tongala is closed to the public.
We have one annual open day, the first Sunday of December.
May Dodd and helpers need a break too!

28/12/2023

They're all so beautiful.💖