23/05/2026
Donkey care station brings relief
By Mbali Tanana
More than 20 critically ill donkeys have been rehabilitated at the newly established donkey clinic, Donkey Care Station at Joza Location, to date.
Among the procedures performed was a one-of-a-kind blood transfusion.
The clinic started operating early last month in a bid to help the many donkeys that have now become synonymous with the town.
Dr Annie Mears said the care station was a joint effort between her NPO, Ithemba Wildlife and Conservation Services, and Blind Love, owned by Phillipa Du Toit.
“The donkey care station is the pinnacle of the work we have achieved in the community so far. It is a community run by our amazing caretaker, Michael, who has been under our training for years. It is a safe space where donkey owners can bring sick or injured donkeys for care, support, and education, all without judgment. We are so proud to say our project is community-led, and that is why it is so sustainable and successful. It’s the adage: ‘Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime," she said.
Mears said that, despite not receiving any government funding, donkey owners seldom need to pay for medical attention unless it is for basic welfare items like harnesses, hoof picks, and preventive treatments, but most consultations are free.
She said that, due to the high demand for the facility, they were already in need of an upgrade.
“The care centre is going to need upgrades soon, as we are already full, and if you build it, they will come. The community has a desperate need for care, education, and veterinary facilities, and we are here to provide them. Not only will we provide health and veterinary care, but we will do so to the standard most private equine owners receive. We also performed the first donkey-to-donkey blood transfusion as part of this project. This is very rarely done in donkeys, especially with owners who can’t pay.
“This highlights the value of a single donkey, and in highlighting its value, like many things, we highlight the need to conserve and protect it. This is where we find change, she said.
Donkey owner Nolukhanyo Booi says she and her partner, Michael Plaatjie, who have agreed to have the care station on their premises, have been unemployed for the past 22 years and have relied solely on their donkey-carting business to support their family.
“Our donkeys are a big part of our family because they make sure we put food on the table. It was through these donkeys that we could take our children to school. How we could ensure they had a dignified ceremony when they had their rite of passage into manhood, so we were very excited when Dr Phillip and Dr Annie approached us about hosting the Donkey Care Station on our premises,” she said.
In light of International Donkey Day, which was celebrated on 8 May, Mearse shared a call to action on her page that day to raise awareness about donkeys.
“It is to recognise the vital contributions of donkeys to agriculture, transport, and society while advocating for their welfare, and that’s just the point. These donkeys are more than just livestock; they are livelihoods, companions, transport, and members of the family.
"But to change the lives of thousands of working animals and their owners, we need to change people. At the most basic molecular level, the donkeys' owners are the easiest to change. If you give them an ounce of respect, education, empathy and opportunity, they will (in my experience) change the world for their donkeys.
"To change the attitudes of those who are not poor, who do not understand the relationship of working animals and owners, who do not work in the same trenches, now that is difficult."
Donkey carer, Michael Plaatjie, holds up a bag of blood during a blood transfusion procedure by animal health technician assistant-in-training, Nicola Bowes. Photo: Supplied
