Dear Friends, Twenty years ago there were approximately 20 working donkeys in the Puttaparthi area. The local donkeys here are quite small and were not used in front of a cart, but they were loaded with goods for transport. (Rickshaws for transport were too expensive) Outside of working hours the donkeys were left on the road, their front legs tied together to prevent them from roaming too far. They had to find their own food, discarded fruits and vegetables and from home some waste.

When I encountered the donkeys I saw them with large wounds leaking pus on their hips, spine and thighs from the moving, grating heavy load, their open spines visible. Then the flies were descending and the maggots had a feast.

My first rescue donkey was one like this in 1998, very friendly but in horrific condition. I brought it to the local veterinary doctor and had permission to tie it up on the premises. I brought food and water everyday and provided treatment. It recovered. 🥰

In 1998 Karuna started the first “Animal Rescue Project Puttaparthi”. This donkey was the first one of many we picked up from the road for treatment although the owners came fighting, but with those wounds the donkey can never get back to work.

Slowly, over the years as Puttaparthi developed, the donkeys disappeared (slaughtered) but we had 5 or 6 in our Karuna shelter. The donkeys you see here are born from the first rescued animals. They live protected and happy with the horses and the old cattle. –Clementien