In late April, friend and rescue partner of IDA’s Hope Animal Sanctuary, Kelly Buck Vance, was called about a donkey who had wandered up to a home in a rural area of Carroll County, Mississippi. The caller stated that there was “something wrong with his feet”.

When our staff arrived, the donkey was down, but with some gentle coaxing we managed to get him to his feet and get him loaded into a trailer. True to the caller’s report, his feet were in horrendous condition. One hoof was curling up toward the front with his leg bent at the ankle which forced him to walk with the ankle partially touching the ground. It was clear that this boy was in severe pain and needed help quickly.

He was taken to Greenwood Animal Hospital for assessment and a treatment plan was formed. Kelly will continue to work with the veterinarian to make this sweet boy as comfortable as possible while they work to correct the problem with a long term treatment plan.