Donkey honored for saving sheep

A report by Yorkshire Evening Post says that a donkey which saved a sheep from being savaged by a dog has been honored for her bravery.

Report quotes an animal charity. According to report, “Dotty came to the aid of her friend Stanley in their shared paddock when a dog launched a frenzied attack on him.”

She pinned the dog to the ground until it let go of five-year-old Stanley.The incident took place in North Yorkshire.

As a result of the attack, the terrified sheep lost two teeth and suffered facial paralysis. Nearly two years on, the two animals are inseparable - even sharing the same stable at night.

BBC Reports it under the headline, “Dotty the Donkey gets PDSA award for saving sheep”

Dotty was presented with the PDSA Certificate for Animal Bravery at her farm in Throxenby, near Scarborough, North Yorkshire.

The PDSA Certificate for Animal Bravery was instituted in 2001 and Dotty is the 10th winner and the first non-dog recipient of the award.

Owner of this donkey Ann Rogers, 63, said: “Dotty was so brave that day.

“She saw her friend Stanley in distress and charged down the field to rescue him from the dog’s jaws.

“I am so proud of Dotty and so pleased that her bravery is being recognised by PDSA.”

'Aggressive dog'

PDSA senior vet Elaine Pendlebury said: “Donkeys are very stoical and protective animals.

“Often when faced with a threat they will rise up to face their enemy, in this case an aggressive dog.

“Dotty showed herself to be a true protector of the animals she sees as her family and her bravery saved Stanley from further harm, and possibly death.”

Mrs Rogers explained how she came across Dotty three years ago tethered on the side of the road where she was skinny and frail.

She rescued the animal and put her on her Row Brow Farm smallholding where she shares fields with Stanley, who was orphaned as a newborn lamb.

The pair shares the paddocks with a menagerie of pets and rescued animals including rabbits, goats, peacocks and llamas.