San Angelo based Peaceful Valley Donkey Rescue (PVDR), the country's largest equine rescue, will be sending a second shipment of much needed feed and building materials to the tiny island of Sint Eustatius (Statia), said a press release Wednesday.
The Caribbean has been suffering from drought for many years and it is taking its toll on the feral donkey population. Donkeys were brought to the Caribbean by European colonists to be used in agriculture and transportation. Statia is only 8 square miles and cannot support the current population of nearly 100 donkeys.
According to the press release, this will be the second relief shipment sent by Peaceful Valley to the island. The last shipment contained pelleted fee and compressed hay. This shipment will also include fencing materials, medical supplies, and a pump and piping for water distribution.
Donald (Donny) Raymond is a combat wounded Marine who served tours in both Iraq and Afghanistan. He is now heading up PVDR's International Donkey Rescue division and will be traveling to Statia to work with a local foundation on sanctuary repairs, setting up automatic watering troughs, and providing medical assistance and hoof trimming to the donkeys.
The Peaceful Valley Donkey Rescue manages over 3,000 donkeys all across the country and has adoption facilities that span from coast to coast. PVDR's new Donkey Rescue International division was created primarily to assist the donkeys on the many islands of the Caribbean. They have already worked on Bonaire and have plans to assist on Nevis in the near future.
A video on the Statia donkey problem can be viewed at www.donkeyrescue.tv.
For more information, please contact Mark Meyers at 325-276-1662 or [email protected].
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