Following our September visit to Donkeyland where CEO, Trustees and staff had the chance to discuss with Tatiana and Dimitris on donkey welfare, our Equine Care team consisting of dental technician Alkis Gkeskos and farrier Vaios Bakratsas, visited Donkeyland on the 15th of December, to offer their services to the donkey residents.
Donkeyland (Gaidourohora) is a sanctuary for donkeys located in the Attica region. It lies in a quiet rural setting, close to hills inhabited by local wildlife and surrounded primarily by tree plantations. Elderly, abandoned, abused, or neglected donkeys find safety and refuge here, where they receive dedicated care—often for the remainder of their lives or get rehomed to a responsible owner.
The Hellenic Donkey Center represents the educational branch of Donkeyland and aims to introduce this often misunderstood and undervalued animal to modern society, with a particular focus on children. Its mission is to highlight the donkey’s remarkable character while fostering awareness, understanding, and respect.
Donkeyland is run by Tatiana and Dimitris, who have devoted many years to managing this unique sanctuary with deep commitment, compassion and passion.
Our team is always impressed by the dedication shown by Dimitris and Tatiana in their care for the donkeys, as well as by employees and volunteers. It is also a pleasure to observe how healthy the animals are, despite their age and any associated conditions, as well as how friendly and socialized they are.
During the visit, our team examined and treated 23 donkeys. While some animals had initially reacted with apprehension the previous year, this time all of them appeared to recognize that the procedures posed no threat and remained calm and cooperative throughout. The consistently calm and reassuring manner of Alkis and Vaios play a crucial role in earning the donkeys’ trust and helping them feel safe and secure in their care.
Alkis recorded the common, but serious, problems (sharp edges, hooks, worn down molars and premolars) and some missing teeth. It was noticed that many had at least one hook usually associated with one or two upper wolf teeth. All animals behaved extremely patiently.
It was especially pleasing to see the female donkey from Andros who was found last year with a severe hook that caused constant pain with every movement of her tongue and made her extremely nervous. After undergoing a challenging treatment last year that required careful teamwork, she now calmly allowed both handling and floating and was in superb condition for her age. Special gag plates, suitable for equines with no incisors, were specifically brought on this trip for Persa, enabling her cheek teeth’s sharp enamel points to be floated with minimal discomfort.
Furthermore, it was particularly touching to treat two newly arrived adult animals from central western Greece, including a mare accompanied by her adorable five-month-old foal.
Vaios carefully checked all the donkeys and trimmed the hooves of those that required it . He also provided Dimitris – who does excellent work as a self-taught donkey hoof trimmer – with valuable guidance and practical tips on handling more demanding hoof cases.
Our team visited Donkeyland one day after the well-known festive “Fasolada Sunday” which takes place annually before Christmas. Despite their fatigue, Tatiana and Dimitris were up early in the morning to welcome our team and expressed their respect for our professionals’ work and their gratitude for AAG’s support.
We would like to thank them for transforming an otherwise cold day into a warm and welcoming experience through their hospitality. We remain in close contact with our partners throughout the year, continuing to collaborate with and support them in every possible way as they carry out what they do best: caring for donkeys.