Returning to check equines seen last year we are encouraged by the enthusiastic welcome we receive. Owners remembered us and awaited our promised visit making a note of our next planned trip, scheduled for this October. Our first day is a long one with the last donkey being seen under the street light in the village square as darkness had already fallen.

Saddle pads were left with owners whose old, bony donkeys would benefit from the lovely soft padding under their hard wooden saddles. New saddles are extremely difficult to find and very expensive. 

Throughout the week we continue meeting old friends, like the sisters in Kritsa whose old donkey receives treats of sweets, and our lovely couple in Agios Georgios whose goat also needs trimming regularly.

As always on our visits through the regions of Lassithi and Iraklion we see donkeys who work daily, walking on roads and therefore needing little treatment; others who rarely leave their stable and need a lot of new growth removed, and those who seem to have hooves which grow so quickly that they require a lot of effort each time we visit. One particular donkey has so much growth that Hans, our farrier, resorts to a large saw to take a slice off the hooves, before continuing with a more careful trim. As this was our third visit to this particular donkey, the owner was not worried to see Hans using such drastic measures. We explain, as always, that no one should try to do this themselves.

Our next visit in October is already planned, and with so many equines out there and so few to help them, we hope our project will continue for many years to come. If you know of anyone with a donkey or villages where there are donkeys please do contact us by sms +30 6944690368 or by email at: info@CretanAnimalWelfare.org.