Donkey Surrendered to USERL

(January 2006)--Jennifer Malpass--I want to welcome our newest addition into the USERL family. Her name is Dixie and she is a 12-15 yr old. donkey.

She comes from an investigation in Carteret County of several horses and donkeys that were being neglected. Hers was the worst, as can be seen from the picture. The other horses and donkeys are being monitored, but Dixie's extreme hoof problems led the investigator to ask for surrender. To be honest, we weren't sure there was much that could be done for Dixie other than humane euthanasia, but upon her arrival to Raleigh she showed she had some spunk left in her. Combined with a talented team including Dr. Bob Meyer and farrier, Danny Glover, Dixie just may have a chance to live a normal donkey life.

After radiographs and careful examination of her hooves, several veterinarians discussed the problems she would probably face to overcome the neglect that left her with extremely deformed hooves - and there were many. However, it was decided to anesthetize her to examine and trim her hooves - if they could find the necessary structures in her hooves to reshape them - her prognosis would be better. With power tools and patience, they shaped Dixie's hooves into some normalcy.

Dixie is now being carefully watched at a foster home to determine how her hooves will "react" to this sudden shift in forces on her hoof structures. She's very spunky, and not sure of people - but moving much better, as her foster can attest to (she's hard to catch). Dixie loves apples and carrots and has been getting her fair share of them as she learns to trust us two-legged creatures. So give a warm welcome to Dixie. Hopefully, her future is as bright as her "never quit" attitude!

-Jennifer Malpass, Triangle Regional Director