In July 2009, we received a call asking us to accompany the Seprona (countryside arm of the Guardia) to rescue a donkey.

Not knowing what we would find, we rushed to Mutxamel, north of Alicante. At a weekend house, Romeo was being kept in a pen with no shelter, food or water throughout the week. Neighbours complained and Seprona acted quickly. Armed with a court order, they seized Romeo and handed him over to us.

Romeo was malnourished and covered in tics and mites, with scabs and sores on his legs. He also showed signs of depression, almost certainly from loneliness as, being pack animals, donkeys should not be kept alone.

Romeo was only a youngster, so luckily had suffered no permanent damage.

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