In June 1974, she received a phone call from a solicitor who was the Executor of the Estate of the late Miss Violet Philpin who had been running the Helping Hand Animal Welfare League Donkey Sanctuary near Reading, Berkshire.

Currently there are sanctuaries, holding bases and foster homes in nine European countries: United Kingdom, Ireland, Cyprus, France, Greece, Italy, Portugal, Romania and Spain.

They also investigate reports of cruelty or neglect, monitor markets and fairs selling equines and check the well-being of all working donkeys.

By funding local teams including veterinary surgeons and education officers, the charity administered over 300,000 treatments to working donkeys annually.

Common problems for donkeys arriving at the clinics include signs of exhaustion, malnutrition and ailments of the teeth and feet.

Injuries from road traffic accidents are also increasingly common and in some areas, terrible wounds can be inflicted by packs of dogs or hyenas, particularly to young foals.

Overseas teams have also developed a children's donkey welfare education programme that includes puppet shows, talks, cartoon sheets and story books.

[17] These programs are offered at the sanctuary in Sidmouth, Devon, and cater to diverse clients, such as individuals with dementia, armed forces veterans, and staff from other charities.

[18][19][20] The main headquarters of the Donkey Sanctuary in Devon is open to the public 365 days a year from 9.00am to dusk with free admission and parking.

[21] Donkeys of all ages live at the farm but a large percentage are elderly animals that remain there in order to be close to the veterinary hospital.