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Air conditioning
The air conditioning has been installed so if
you're in the sanctuary and you feel a cool mist spray over you
don't worry it's not a donkey sneezing on you. The black pipes
strung up above the visitor and donkey areas are to spray cool
water on everyone and keep us all cool in the heat. Our vet was
very impressed and thinks it's a great idea. As do Connan and
Paloma who stand underneath the spray at every opportunity.
Complete: Automatic water
Our automatic watering system is up and running
and just in time too with temperatures soaring to over 40
degrees in the sun. The donkeys don't mind the heat too much and
prefer to sunbathe but they are enjoying being able to get fresh
cold water whenever they like.
Completed: Bolera's new pen
Bolera can now be found in a separate pen at the
end of the visitor area. Bolera likes to throw her weight around
at feeding times so it is important we keep her separate from
the others. We will be building an 'Oldies and babies' pen soon
to keep them away from Connan, Flash and Derek, the three
amigos, pictured below.
25/06/07 Hay delivery and donkey destruction
Our most recent hay delivery caused quite a stir
with the donkeys and although the hay was all covered and out of
sight they decided to work on breaking down the fences to get
into the hay barn. We are constantly repairing fences that the
donkeys have broken as with 500kg of weight behind them they
pack quite a punch.
Broken Fences
Their teeth do a lot of damage too
We suspect Flash
Coming soon... Bolera's new pen, Donkey
destruction, Horse Paddock, Automatic water system, air conditioning and
more.
Update 30/03/07
Completed today: We finished of the last few things we
needed to do to get the horse pen, complete with sun shelter, up and
running. The old horse pen can now be used to keep our baby donkeys
(burritos) in so they can eat their breakfast in peace. We also enlarged
one of the dog pens to give them a bit more room to run about in while
they wait to go out for a walk.
Update 28/03/07
The horse shelter is up, despite the best efforts of the
strong winds here today in Nerja to delay us, the roof is up and its
almost ready for our mare to move in.
Update 27/03/07
Caravan removed and chicken pen dismantled and rebuilt in
new location
Update 20/03/07
Blue trailer removed, dog pen dismantled, moved and
rebuilt. Building rubbish before and after pics.
Update 15/03/07
The new fences are all completed and our improved "donkey
viewing area" has proved a big hit with donkeys and visitors alike.
Plans for improvements before the Easter holidays include:
Taking down all the fences in the entrance area to make
the visitor area bigger and more open.
Building a new pen complete with roof for our newly
rescued mare, who is suffering from skin cancer.
Removing the blue trailer and the caravan which have
become trapped after dog and donkey pens have been built around them
over the years.
Moving and rebuilding the dog pens to accommodate the new
horse pen.
Building a larger pen for the chickens where the caravan
is currently.
Removing all our metal wind-breaks to ensure we continue
to comply with the new zoological laws
Update 13/03/07
Busy day today, our volunteers worked on the new fences and helped a
local farmer clear out all of the manure and old straw from the donkey
pen.
Update 11/03/07
Lots more things moved, dismantled, rebuilt and
secured in place today! With curious donkeys and an even more curious
goat watching on our hard-working volunteers rearranged approximately 15
fence sections like some kind of giant mental (and physical) puzzle.
More details as things progress.
Pictures above, new donkey area and secure work area.
Update 09/03/07
We are well underway with our latest improvement
program, the aim being to open up the visitor area giving you an even
better experience with not only the donkeys but all the rescued animals
in our care. Our volunteers have been bedding in the new vertical fence
posts over half a metre into the ground and surrounded by concrete for
added strength and security. The donkeys, mules and baby donkeys were
slightly bemused at being shut in the back field while work was underway
as you can see from the pictures below.
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Normal view of donkey area
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Empty donkey area
New fence posts with donkeys penned in back field |
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New fences going up
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Horse
In her new feeding and isolation pen |
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When work is complete the horizontal poles will be removed so you can walk all the way to the fence |
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The next step is of course to add on and secure the
horizontal beams and install gates allowing access to the donkeys. We
have also being working hard to create 5 extra pens which can be used
for feeding pens for those animals requiring a special diet and as an
isolation pen in case of illness, for example colic. All of this has
been done on top of the daily routines that enable the smooth running of
the sanctuary to ensure our rescued animals receive the best possible
care.
We will also be moving the main fence that separates
the "big dogs" from the donkeys during the day back about 10-15 metres
to increase the donkey pen area. This requires rearranging, moving and
securing at least 20, seven foot high, metal fences all the while not
letting any of our 36+ rescued animals escape or simply trying to stop
them getting in the way! Rambo the goat is particularly skilled at
standing exactly in the most inconvenient location whilst you are
lugging heavy fences around. So if you'd like to drop in with some
grapes (his favourite, hand-fed of course!) to distract him with or even
take him out for a walk it would really help us out.
More to follow as the building continues.
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Thanks for your support, we are run entirely by volunteers and all our
work is funded by your kind donations. Unlike UK charities we receive no
help from the government, no grants nor have any tax concessions on
donations or gifts in kind and in Spain the idea of donating to an
animal charity is sadly non-existent. Please click
here to make a one off donation securely through PayPal.
2006 news:
In all, its about 10,000 Metres, as it is
essential for the PALS to have freedom, to be able to range and graze,
but beware, we are not of the flash multi million pound "other donkey
sanctuaries" type of operation that have recently started in
Spain (massive six figure salaries, 20 Million plus pounds a
year incomes and 40 Million pounds cash reserves!!!) thus we are having
to make improvements as and when we raise money for materials. Improvements to the entrance area
(safer entry and wheelchairs, prams and buggies) seating areas, water
soak ways, and WC facilities are underway. SITE
UPDATES: Thanks to fundraising to buy materials, Brian and Jim
have worked hard to put in new entrance ramps for safer entry
for
wheelchairs, prams and buggies. We have paved the entrance area and put
in tables and chairs and (hopefully soon) a small
cafe area. We now have sinks for you to wash your hands in after a hard days
work patting
the animals! The septic tank has been installed and the much need WC
facilities are also now complete although we are still working
on the walkway so that visitors can get to them! Some old pictures of the
donkey shelter going up:
      
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