Donkey Shelter helps students

Volume 6 Number 7 July 12 - August 8 2010

Dr May Dodd, Dr Lucy Cudmore and Marcus Verstraelen give Felix the donkey a check over at the Equine Centre in Werribee.
Dr May Dodd, Dr Lucy Cudmore and Marcus Verstraelen give Felix the donkey a check over at the Equine Centre in Werribee.

Veterinary science students at the University of Melbourne have joined forces with a local Donkey Shelter to give orphaned and neglected donkeys a new lease on life. Sally Sherwen reports.

Although donkeys are not commonly owned as pets throughout Victoria, there are still hundreds of them in this state alone that are victims of neglect and abuse and, as a result, require urgent care. Dr May Dodd founded the Diamond Creek Donkey Shelter in 1997 for this reason.

The Shelter is a not-for-profit, charity organisation where orphaned, abandoned and mistreated donkeys are cared for and rehabilitated under the loving care of Dr Dodd, who is a psychiatrist in her spare time.

“Donkeys arrive at the shelter for a variety of reasons – the constitution of the shelter mandates an acceptance of any donkey, any reason,” says Dr Dodd.

Dr Dodd explains she was inspired to establish a home for donkeys on her own property following a visit to the Good Samaritan Donkey Shelter in NSW, when she realised they were the main donkey shelter for the whole of Australia.

As Dr Dodd already had a passion for donkeys, this decision to transform her property into a donkey haven was an easy one.

“Donkeys are more like dogs in personality than they are like horses – they are very inquisitive, affectionate and enjoy human interaction,” she says. “Donkeys are very addictive; you start out like me with one and end up with 300!”

Over the past 12 years, Dr Dodd has provided a loving home for over 300 donkeys. However the sheer number of them means that regular medical care is needed. This is where the University of Melbourne veterinary science students come in.

The Equine Centre at the University of Melbourne Veterinary Hospital has developed a unique and mutually beneficial relationship with the Diamond Creek Donkey Shelter. Third and fourth year veterinary science students see Dr Dodd’s donkeys on an emergency basis and also for routine appointments, when newly rescued donkeys need a general check-up.

The donkey’s get high-quality care and the students gain valuable hands-on experience treating donkeys.

The University’s partnership with the Donkey Shelter is deeply valued by both the veterinary science students and Dr Dodd.

Marcus Verstraelen, a fourth year veterinary science student says that having donkeys at the Equine Centre for treatment helps him gain a wide range of experience with a variety of animals.

“We’re better prepared when we’re out in the real world,” he says.

As most of the rescued donkeys have been neglected, they tend to have a wide range of medical conditions that need to be dealt with. This provides the students with a wealth of experience diagnosing and treating a range of cases.

To enhance the learning experience of the students, Dr Dodd allows them to take responsibility for some of the donkey’s cases, under the supervision of a senior veterinarian.

“It helps us to have someone like May, who is willing to let students get involved,” says Ben Mielke, a fourth year veterinary science student. “It’s great experience being one of the primary carers for an animal – I’m able to work closely with the senior veterinarian, which builds confidence in my ability,” he says.

Dr Dodd’s love of donkeys has rubbed off on the veterinarians and the students at the Centre.

Dr Lucy Cudmore, a veterinarian at the Centre says that May’s donkeys are very well behaved and a pleasure to handle.

“Felix (pictured) is a regular patient and a staff favourite here as he is very cheeky,” she says.

“They’re like people,” says Marcus Verstraelen. “Some are naughty, some are really nice and quiet, some even seem grateful for the help they get in the Hospital.”

Dr Dodd is thrilled with the students’ interest in the donkeys. “The donkeys get the absolute best of care at the Equine Centre,” she says.

“One of the most important outcomes of the partnership is that future vets from the University have a soft spot for donkeys. That is a huge step forward in terms of ongoing care for these animals.”

For more information on the Equine Centre visit www.equinecentre.unimelb.edu.au/

For more information on the Donkey Shelter and to make much appreciated donations, visit:

home.vicnet.net.au/~donkeysh/