AAG’s efforts to assist the working donkeys at the Akropolis of Lindos on the island of Rhodes date back to more than a decade ago.
Luckily conditions have ameliorated for these animals since then, although still more need to be done. What’s more, experience with this situation has taught us that there is a more complex: local animals are now being handled with more care and owners know that it is most crucial to keep them healthy. It’s been, nevertheless, a difficult situation or a mystery in some cases what happens to them after they stop working.
This summer, our Equine Care Programme Coordinator Elisa Geskou was contacted by Jani from Happy Ears, a donkey sanctuary that is offering a decent retirement to donkeys of Rhodes. Their shelter installations are simple but impressive and there is ample space for the donkeys to move and exercise daily. Jani offers them a great life and receives applications from owners to accept their animals after these (or themselves) retire but it is not always possible to take them all in.
Some new arrivals required urgent dental treatments, so equine dental technician Alkis Gkeskos visited Happy Ears on 1st and 2nd July, 2025, where he offered his dental services to the 16 donkeys, while the cost of the outreach was covered by the shelter. Three more geriatric ones (a donkey and two horses) in two different sites around the area, were given treatment as well
The last donkey is a remarkable case to note. Being more than 42 years old, and although missing some of his teeth, he is in a relatively good condition, his owners love him and surprisingly he is being remembered by older generations!
Sharp enamel points, dental hooks, dental calculus were treated, with all of the donkeys behaving great during their examination and treatments. Jani was very satisfied and in the last evening of the outreach trip prepared a meal for our dental technician!
Since the aim of both AAG and Happy Ears sanctuary is common, to achieve the maximum in the welfare of working and retired donkeys in Lindos, we are looking forward to a further collaboration in the future. Working together is taking us steps ahead.