Donkeys in sanctuaries across the world require specialist care that recognises their distinct behavioural, nutritional, and social needs compared to horses.
Donkey welfare failures often arise from treating them as small horses: donkeys have fundamentally different nutritional needs (lower sugar, higher fibre), different social bonds (extreme attachment to companions), and different pain expression patterns that require specific training to recognise. Sanctuary environments that meet donkey welfare requirements provide dry, social living conditions, restricted grass access, enrichment for their natural foraging and investigation behaviours, and consistent human relationships built on trust rather than dominance.