15/12/2005

http://www.telegraph.co.uk
Thursday, December 15, 2005

By Tim Butcher in Taibeh

A former British Airways stewardess who is pioneering free health care for Palestinian donkeys received an early Christmas present yesterday when a charity promised £281,000 in support.

The pledge represented a ringing endorsement of the work of Lucy Fensom, 35, from Brighton, who has spent the past five years in Israel running a donkey sanctuary on a shoestring budget.

The money, promised over the next three years by Britain's Brooke Hospital for Animals, will help to develop her resting stations for donkeys, mules and horses from Palestinian communities occupied by Israel.

The first has been a huge success, offering free veterinary services and animal husbandry advice to Palestinians from the West Bank.

Security concerns meant the station was erected just inside Israel close to the barrier around the West Bank. Palestinian animals have to cross the barrier to attend the weekly surgery.

What started as a one-donkey operation has grown hugely as word has spread among Arabs on both sides of the barrier that free care is available.

"This is not a touchy-feely exercise, but a project based on common sense," she said. "If the farmer looks after his donkey well, it will work a lot longer and be of greater value in the long run. Some of the animals are in a bad way, with awful saddle sore and cuts from where the harness rubs away at the skin. But with a bit of education and care we are already seeing results."
The need for shelters was in evidence during a visit by The Daily Telegraph when the vet and mobile support unit were kept busy by four donkeys, two horses and a mule.

On the wall of the shelter was a diagram of a donkey with various instructions in Arabic, spelling out how its diet, water intake and workload should be monitored.

Rashad Hassan Abdullah, a Palestinian farmer, thanked Miss Fensom, her Israeli husband, Adi Zahor, and their small staff of helpers.

"I think these people have goodness in their hearts so I must thank them," Mr Abduallah said as his donkey was given a newly upholstered, padded collar by the station team.

"I have learnt one important thing, which is to have more mercy on my donkey." He said he depended on his donkey for everything and, when asked if he had a car, broke out laughing, slapped the animal's flank and said: "This is my car!"

Bill Swann, the international director of the Brooke, praised Miss Fensom's vision. He said: "Lucy has recognised what is clearly a significant animal welfare need among animals belonging to poor communities and we hope that with our help her good start can be built on for even greater results."