“It’s fantastic news that our vehicle was recovered so quickly, we can’t thank the public enough for their support in helping to locate it,” Hannah Bryer, head of welfare at the charity, told H&H today (21 April).
“We rely on vehicles like this Equi-Trek every day to support the work of the Donkey Sanctuary. They are used during rescues, transporting donkeys between our sanctuaries, or to take donkeys to their new guardian homes.
“They are an essential part of our workforce, to ensure that we can be there for donkeys in greatest need.”
(Image credit: creditUnknown)
The empty Peugeot Equi-Trek Boxer van was parked outside the Premier Inn hotel in Denton, Manchester, during an overnight stop to collect a donkey from the charity’s Manchester sanctuary in Abbey Hey when it was stolen. The donkey, which was due to be collected yesterday, was planned to be taken to the Donkey Sanctuary’s headquarters in Devon.
“We’re incredibly sad that someone has chosen to target the Donkey Sanctuary like this – we are a charity that relies entirely on donations, so we can be there for donkeys in greatest need,” said Ms Bryer at the time (20 April).
Horse & Hound Newsletter
Never miss out on the latest happenings in the equestrian world
Anyone with information should contact police on 101, quoting crime reference number 459 20/04/2021.
The Donkey Sanctuary is an international equine welfare sanctuary and runs 10 sanctuaries in the UK and Europe, providing lifelong care to more than 7,000 donkeys and mules.
Its hospital treats sick donkeys and trains vets, and the charity also operates worldwide programmes for animals working in agriculture, industry and transportation, as well as those used in the production of meat and skin.
Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade to access our H&H Plus online service which brings you breaking news as it happens as well as other benefits.
Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now
Lucy is an experienced news journalist, reporter and presenter. Since joining the Horse & Hound team in 2015, Lucy has reported from major global sporting events including the Tokyo Paralympic Games and multiple European Championships, as well as Badminton, Burghley and London, to name a few. She has covered current affairs and sports news across the full spectrum of equestrian disciplines and racing, as well as human and equine welfare, industry news and court cases.
