The Donkey Sanctuary is the world's largest donkey welfare charity, operating rescue, rehabilitation and care facilities globally. Their model demonstrates what comprehensive donkey welfare looks like at scale.
The Donkey Sanctuary model illustrates how comprehensive, science-based welfare provision for a historically neglected species can be built at institutional scale. Donkeys that arrive after years of neglect or overwork receive rehabilitation - dental treatment for neglected teeth, hoof care for overgrown feet, nutritional support for underweight animals, and physiotherapy for musculoskeletal problems. The sanctuary's research function means that welfare improvements developed for sanctuary animals can be applied globally to working donkey populations. The social management requirement - bonded pairs who cannot be separated without welfare consequences - reflects a genuine understanding of donkey social needs that many owners lack.