Summer, who was born around 1970, is a large, dun-coloured Standard donkey with an all gray muzzle. Her large brown eyes have distinctive black lines around them that are suggestive of her zebra cousins. Donkeys, horses and zebra make up the equine family.
Late one very hot afternoon in July 2002, a call came into the Sanctuary office from a sheriff’s bailiff. He had been sent to a farm to impound the possessions of a person who had not paid rent for almost a year. Much to the bailiff’s surprise and dismay, he discovered upon arrival at the farm that the ‘possessions’ included three horses and a donkey, all of them badly neglected. Their owner had not been seen for many months and, during that period, the animals had stood in stalls, day after day, assisted only by a caring neighbour who brought them water each day.
The bailiff reacted quickly, consulted with an associate who had equine experience, found homes for the horses and, ultimately, he was directed to the DONKEY SANCTUARY OF CANADA. Immediately, upon receiving an account of the donkey’s situation, the jennet was taken in to lifelong care.
When Sanctuary staff went to pick up the donkey, they were appalled at the living conditions. The animals’ stalls had not been cleaned or aired for months and months. The donkey’s hooves had not been trimmed in at least a year so she hobbled along painfully when they led her from the stall to the waiting trailer.
On the day that the donkey was brought to the Sanctuary Farm, the temperature was nearing +35C. So that we might always be reminded of her arrival during such an unusual spell of heat, it was decided to call the donkey, ‘Summer’.
Summer settled in to the Sanctuary’s routine almost immediately. She is a very curious creature who knows her own mind when there is something that she wants to do. We are very pleased that she will be with us during her retirement years.