Earl Gray is a handsome, gray-brown Standard donkey who was born in 1985. He was admitted to the DONKEY SANCTUARY OF CANADA late in 1995 after the intervention of three supporters of the DSC at an equine auction in Central Ontario.
When first seen by these caring people, this desperate donkey was jammed into a pen, too small for his size, making it impossible for him to turn around. His hooves had been so grossly trimmed that he had difficulty remaining upright. When his turn came to be auctioned, the donkey was dragged into the ring, barely able to stand. As the bidding began, no one expressed interest in the swaying creature except those dealers who sold to the slaughterhouses. Unable to imagine such a fate for the donkey, the DSC supporters pooled their money, started to bid and, when the sale was completed, the donkey was theirs.
But the night was long from being over. The people contacted the DSC and requested that the donkey be admitted immediately since the barn where the auction had been held was extremely drafty and cold, and the donkey was in much pain.
Six hours later, just after sunup, after the hundreds of kilometers required to fetch a trailer, pick up the donkey and drive him to the DSC Farm, Earl Gray (as he was named by his rescuers) was helped into a stall. That morning the therapeutic hoof work began.
Today, Earl is content with his life at the DSC. He is a unique donkey, one who ‘marches to his own tune’ and who prefers to be solitary. At the same time, he is unfailingly gentle with people and a great favourite with staff, volunteers and visitors.