When rescuers found Shocks the donkey, he was lying in a field at a farm in Ireland with a rope tied tightly around his neck. The skin around his neck was covered in lesions and sores from being tethered, and his owner had poured bleach over his wounds, thinking that would help him.
Little did he know, that moment was the beginning of a new life for Shocks, who would not only get the help he needed – he’d even become incredibly helpful to others. Shocks got a loving new home at The Donkey Sanctuary in Birmingham, England, where many of the animals are rescued from neglect and abuse and go on to become therapy donkeys.
RELATED STORY:
In 2013, that is where Shocks met Amber – a two-year-old little girl who was unable to make a sound. When Amber and her twin were born prematurely, Amber couldn’t breathe. Almost as soon as she entered the world, she needed surgery to save her life.
Doctors gave Amber an emergency surgery that put a pipe in her neck, called a tracheostomy, to let air in, which saved her life. But, it cut off airflow from her vocal cords, leaving the little girl mute.
Amber also has cerebral palsy, which makes it difficult for her to build muscle and move around. Julian Austwick, Amber’s father, told The Dodo:
“She struggled to sit up and showed no signs of crawling ’til very late on. A friend mentioned The Donkey Sanctuary to Tracy [Amber’s mother] and told her the donkeys could give therapy to additional needs children, so we decided to try it.”
RELATED STORY:
It was Amber’s first time meeting a therapy animal, and, as it happened, Amber was Shocks’s first patient. And when he met Amber, the connection was instantaneous. Austwick said:
“It was fairly immediate to see they had a bond together, as they were both so gentle with each other. Shocks would lower his head to her and would allow her to hold him around his neck. It was scary for us, as parents, as he was so big compared to little Amber, but they really seemed smitten!”
Shocks encouraged Amber to be active, which helped her build up her strength. She even learned to ride the donkey, who only a little while before, had been left for dead. Finally, when Amber turned 3, she was old enough for another surgery to make it possible for her to talk, but it would take practice.
RELATED STORY:
She still hadn’t said a word when she went to visit Shocks one day in November 2013. After taking a ride with him and getting ready to leave the sanctuary to go home, she hugged the donkey and said, “I love you, Shocky.” Austwick remembers:
“We were delighted. It was such a proud moment and of course a massive relief to know that she could speak.”
Now Amber is going to school and growing up strong – but she still visits her best friend, Shocks.
Neither Shocks nor Amber had the easiest lives before they met each other. But the future looks bright for both of them. Austwick said:
“She gets to go in the arena with him and groom him and cuddle him and lead him around the arena, and she loves it. They still value their time together, and they still love their cuddles.”
RELATED STORY:
Their special connection has been an inspiration to so many, including Amber’s parents. They were so moved by what Shocks did for their daughter, they even wrote a book about it.
“I’d say they healed each other,” Austwick said.
To help The Donkey Sanctuary rescue and train more therapy donkeys like Shocks, you can make a contribution.
Source:
Please get on our update list today, as social media is strangling our reach. Join here: http://healthnutnews.com/join THANK YOU!
