PETER DAVISON: Peter Wright has a Christmas wish.
Go on, Ned.
As a Yorkshire vet...
Well, that's a lovely recovery. He's back on his feet now.
...he's always had a special affinity with donkeys.
Well, I think that was a vote of satisfaction.
And during the countdown to Christmas...
Is that nice? ..he's on an important journey...
Oh, look at that. It's lovely to see.
...touring the country to witness the work
of people who dedicate their lives to saving donkeys.
You are doing a fantastic job. WOMAN: Yeah.
Don't cry. Don't cry.
Peter meets a fellow donkey charity patron...
Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful.
...who happens to be acting royalty.
So, can I say you're a Yorkshire woman?
You certainly can say I'm a Yorkshire woman.
And for Special Agent Wright, the mission is clear...
All you want is someone to love you long-term, in't it?
...to help find some donkeys a forever home in time for Christmas.
Ancl we'll make sure, if it's at all possible,
somewhere in beautiful Yorkshire.
On a summer's morning, Peter's making a pilgrimage
to a place that's 300 miles from his home in North Yorkshire,
but very close to his heart.
On the UK's Jurassic Coast,
he's come to the Donkey Sanctuary's headquarters in Devon
to begin his donkey adventure very much in his comfort zone.
Today, I'm here to visit the veterinary department.
One of the donkeys needs surgery, and I'll do what I can to help out.
Peter's been the charity's ambassador for five years,
and he's keen to learn about the kind of challenges they face
in their quest to help and rehome donkeys.
Good to see you. Nice to see you as well.
So in the sanctuary's hospital,
he'll be working with vetjamie and his team, operating on Jane.
Jane's got EOTRH.
It's a condition that we're seeing
quite a lot of within our donkey population.
It causes the teeth to decay, and it causes them a lot of pain.
Hi, Jane. just pop that under there.
'I feel very sorry forjane with this condition.'
Ancl it can only be dealt with by removing the teeth.
They don't look very nice, do they, Jamie?
No.
The charity's deputy CEO, Faith,
knows it's important that Jane has some moral support.
So, this is Lass, Jane's bonded companion.
Whenever we carry out these kinds of procedures,
we make sure that the companion stays close by
so that Jane has the best chance of success
but also so that Lass doesn't get too upset.
'They understand the donkeys. They understand their needs.'
Are you going to take all the upper incisors out?
Yeah. That's the plan.
As long as they've got long grass that they can use their lips for,
they cope just fine.
We understand these donkeys are very loyal,
they're very intelligent, but they also will show great empathy.
'All these characteristics are typical of donkeys in general.'
Oh, last one.
There we go. Well clone.
And with Jane's vital operation over...
She's not going to be smiling on next year's calendar, is she?
She might be gumming on it. Yes.
Peter wants to thank her supportive friend, Lass.
Hello, Lass. Hey.
You all right? How has she been, Faith?
She's worried about her friend, I think.
Donkeys will stay together for their whole lives.
Very, very important that we respect those bonds. That's lovely.
Seeing the sanctuary's vital work from a vet's point of view...
We're just gonna keep a very close eye on her now
over the next few hours as she recovers from the an aesthetic.
Within a few weeks, it should be fully healed.
...it's just what Peter needed to kick-start his donkey mission.
It was a great joy for me to help with this procedure today.
Half an hour after, there is Jane tucking into a bit of forage.
Ancl I think that says a lot
about how stress-free the procedure's been
and how she's getting back to normal with her best friend, Lass.
Ancl now, in a very short period of time, they'll be going out to graze.
Jane, like many donkeys,
can be treated and set on a path to being rehomed with Lass.
And by the time Christmas comes round, it's Peter's aim
to have found some rescue donkeys a permanent place to live.
To get a better understanding of the size of his task,
he's come to The Flicka Foundation in Cornwall,
home to over 100 donkeys, ponies and horses,
which is run by Laurie andjudy.
Hello. There's a good girl.
They're worried about two recent rescues who'll never be rehomed.
Like Jane and Lass over in Devon, Frida and Finty are a bonded pair.
They're both very senior ladies, very lovely,
but had a very tough life.
They were neglected for many, many years,
but they're very gentle, and they're just a delight to deal with
because they're such friendly girls.
Come on, then. There we go.
'I think it's quite sad they've had such a tough life.
'It's been very hard for them.'
All right, girls. There we are.
Morning.
Morning, Peter.
Lovely clay. Yes. Isn't it lovely?
It is a lovely clay. Yes.
I'll have to come to Cornwall more often. Yes, you should.
These are two ladies that have been rescued very recently, I understand.
Yes. A few months ago.
They've had quite a lot of neglect, really.
Particularly the feet are something that are worrying us.
I've just seen Frida now lifting her feet. Yes.
The problem with donkeys, they mask their pain, don't they?
They're very clever at hiding pain.
But we need to know what we're dealing with.
The plan is to take some X-rays of Frida and Finty's feet.
I think the X-rays are gonna be incredibly useful.
It may be that the remodelling of the pedal bones
might indicate that we're beyond the point of no return.
For sanctuary volunteer, Rachel, that would be a huge blow.
When they arrived,
as quite a lot of donkeys here that arrive, in appalling conditions.
You can't even take in how bad they look.
You feel like you're seeing things.
What we're really hoping for today is the best news,
that their feet can be managed.
But like Peter, local vet Charlie knows that's not always possible.
We're always thinking about the quality of the donkey's life
going forward, and if they've got uncontrollable pain,
then sometimes, we have to make the kindest decision for the donkey.
There is sensitivity.
I can't... SHE SNIFFS
It's just I'm worried if they have to be put to sleep.
And we've worked so hard.
Right, I'm gonna take the picture now.
DEVICE BEEPS OK.
It's so deformed, that pedal bone. Isn't it?
Not good, is it? No.
I'm eccentric, as you'll find.
Or crazy, whatever they wanna call us.
Peter meets one of donkey rescue's unsung heroes...
It's like a different donkey. Yeah.
She's in the right place now.
...as well as its most famous patron.
So, can I say you're a Yorkshire woman?
You certainly can say I'm a Yorkshire woman.
And you, a Yorkshire man.
Well, 20 miles north of you, in Thirsk, yes.
That'll just about do. Yeah.
PETER LAUGHS
WOMAN: There we go.
PETER DAVISON: Donkeys have always had a special association
with the festive season and the greatest story ever told.
But every year, there are those who suffer neglect and hardship.
DON KEY BRAYS
As well as seeking a better understanding
of the work that's done to help them,
donkey charity ambassador Peter wants to find some rescues
a forever home in time for Christmas.
But right now, on a summer's day in Cornwall...
Happy with that, Julie?
...the Yorkshire vet is concerned about two donkeys
who'll never be rehomed. DEVICE BEEPS
The big question is whether there's any hope for Frida and Finty
after the serious neglect they suffered earlier in their lives.
Bit more.
Peter's X-raying Frida's feet with local vets Julie and Charlie.
Pedal bone doesn't look very healthy.
Not looking so good.
The pedal bone is the triangular bone within the foot,
and it should be a triangular shape.
We're just gonna take some more views,
try and get more information.
DEVICE BEEPS
Little bit depressed, really, about those X-rays.
That bone isn't healthy at all.
That is probably as a result of long-time neglect.
Ancl there's going to be a lot of ifs and buts, really,
as to whether Arthur, the farrier,
is going to be able to improve quality of life.
I don't even know if it's possible, in all honesty.
That's the thing. I think I'm grasping at straws.
Is it really gonna help her long-term?
I don't know.
Finty's feet are also a huge concern.
Good girl.
Let's just hope that things aren't as bad as Frida's are.
Very different.
Yes. Yeah. Density's better, isn't it?
In comparison to Frida, the bone is much more normal.
Much will depend on whether Arthur the farrier
thinks he can stop any suffering.
So, we've got the X-rays of the girls. OK.
Volunteer Rachel is on tenterhooks.
It's an anxious wait.
Looking forward, erm,
yeah, we need to know where we're gonna go.
OK.
Do you think you can improve her quality of life
from where she is now?
Errn, I think we can.
We can certainly look at creating a base
that she can stand on to keep everything nice and level and flat
and spreading her load over as wide an area as possible.
It really is down to being able to make her comfortable. Yeah.
It's really going to be a case of we'll give it a try.
Frida and Finty will stay at the sanctuary
under the care ofjudy, Laurie and the team.
And if Arthur's successful,
their lives will finally be pain-free and happy.
There we go, sweetheart.
There's just a little bit of a glimmer of new beginnings
and the chance to have a reasonable life.
JULIE: Yeah, but I think everything you stand for,
that "flicka" of hope, that's what they're here for.
I hope so.
Eh, Rach? Yeah.
Don't cry. Don't cry.
THEY CHUCKLE
You are doing a fantastic job. JULIE: Yeah.
Thank you.
'We're very upset for poor Frida.'
But, Arthur, fingers crossed he can make her more comfortable.
Just anxious, but hopeful.
As long as Frida's fighting, we'll fight. Yeah.
Christmas is a time for giving.
But all year round, as well as the large charities,
there are selfless souls dedicated
to helping donkeys on a smaller scale.
Peter's back up north in the beautiful cathedral city of Durham
to meet Ian...
Hello, baby. Hello.
...a former businessman who now spends his retirement rescuing,
rehabilitating and rehoming donkeys.
We're a small charity.
At the moment, we've got a capacity of 20 donkeys
and people say to us, "Well, if you've got a capacity of 20
"and you've got 24, how do you do it?"
And quite frankly, I just pretend we haven't got them.
We don't really wanna turn one away.
I wanted to do it on a part-time basis.
It's now turned into eight clays a week
and a constant struggle for finance.
We're one donkey being really poorly
away from wiping out the small reserve we've got.
Ian runs the Durham Donkey Rescue...
Peter. Hello. Hello.
Nice to meet you. Thanks for coming to see us.
...with the help of just a handful of unpaid volunteers.
Why? Why did you want to go into donkey rescue?
Well, I was poorly, and, erm...
because I was in business and I overdid it,
and I got on the rat race, chasing money like everybody else,
I wanted to retire, or I needed to retire, really.
So I wanted to give summat back.
Ancl to be honest, I've had my payback from them, really.
I'm eccentric, as you'll find.
Or crazy, whatever they wanna call us. But I love it.
Although, this good cause does come with its bad days.
This is one of the first ones we got in...
Ebony. ..a couple a year ago, Ebony.
Probably one of the worst cases we'd ever had.
Skin and bone and all this horrible running sores.
That looks like rain scald.
Yeah, it is. She'd just been outside for months and months on end.
She had no shelter?
She had no shelter, and she knew she had no food and no help.
I mean, that skin looks horrendous.
If they're standing out in all weathers, the wet penetrates.
Ancl as a consequence, bacteria starts to work,
and it's painful.
Donkeys must have a shelter. Yeah.
Thanks to Ian and his team...
Hello.
...both Ebony and her mum, Dolly, now have a bright future.
She's like a different donkey. Yeah.
I mean, it took us nine months to put her right.
She was that bad, I thought she was a goner.
Ancl we very nearly lost her.
But hopefully, she's in the right place now.
I know you've got to rehome them, Ian, but you must get attached.
I kind of try to distance myself from it because they've got to go.
Some people think I'm hard, but...
Ian, I haven't known you long,
but I can see you're a bit of a softie, really.
PETER LAUGHS Yeah. Well, yeah.
I suppose, deep down, I am smiling, or I am a bit soft.
But don't tell anybody, please. Your secret's safe with me.
Yeah. Thank you. PETER LAUGHS
Come on this way, eh?
Last year, Ian rehomed 10 of the 18 donkeys he rescued.
The rest get to enjoy the life of luxury here.
Good girl.
I can hardly quantify what I do.
I don't get paid. I don't ever intend or want to be paid.
I think I've had my eyes opened
to how bad these animals have been when they've come in,
and the satisfaction we've all had when we fixed one up.
'It's a lovely, lovely feeling. You've got her back.'
PETER CHUCKLES
And quite frankly, what more could you wish for?
Mother and daughter have had it pretty rough, but they're OK now.
With his heart warmed, Peter has renewed hope
in his mission to rehome donkeys before Christmas.
But back in Devon, at Donkey Sanctuary HQ...
Peter, pleased to meet you. Nice to meet you.
...farm supervisorjosie and lead behavioural expert Ben
are about to hit him with a reality check.
Today, I'd like to show you some of the details
of one of the biggest rescues that we've clone to date - Operation Dawn.
I'd like to show you some footage
so you can have an idea of what people were up against.
In Operation Dawn, carried out in the early hours of the morning...
DON KEYS BRAY
...rescued nearly 100 donkeys being kept by a breeder.
Oh, look at the condition of them. Yeah.
Just filthy.
The conditions were just horrendous. Oh!
Those feet are... It's just indescribable, really. Yeah.
And you can see how uncomfortable they are.
It is soul-destroying watching this.
What did you feel when you saw
lorries being unloaded with animals in this state?
I think it was the sheer quantity.
And there was foals in there as well.
And to see a foal clutching to their mums because they're terrified,
it affected all of the staff hugely. Yeah.
It is quite normal in cases like this
where some of them are not fit to travel,
they are put to sleep to end their suffering.
Rehabilitating donkeys...
who have suffered so badly is a long process.
You can see that fear of, "Oh, what's gonna happen?"
Many find it very difficult to trust people.
Just take a step towards him, just, like, a half step.
I think he can smell that you're a vet, Peter.
You can see him thinking, "Do I want to come and engage?"
Almost there with him. Almost.
As veterinary surgeons,
we're not really involved with this aspect of your work.
So for me, it's a sharp learning curve.
Oh, isn't that lovely? He's moving to Ben now.
Oh, look at that. Look at that.
It's lovely to see.
PETER LAUGHS
Ben, this must give you a great deal of satisfaction
to see the progress that you're making with these individuals.
You're reaching across a species and giving them confidence and courage.
It's absolutely amazing to be part of that.
The physical issues
that are dealt with by veterinary surgeons clay in and clay out
here at the sanctuary is well-documented and well-known,
and I'm fully aware of that,
but I've not been fully aware
of the behavioural work that's carried out here.
Ancl I've learned today, fairly exponentially, really,
it's a long slow process in getting them back to full health,
but it's obvious that there is light at the end of the tunnel.
This chap seems to have taken to me straight away.
DON KEY BRAYS
Well, I think that was a vote of satisfaction.
DON KEY BRAYS
With summer drawing to a close,
Peter's keen for some uplifting news.
And a couple of months after he first met Frida and Finty
at the Cornwall sanctuary, he's back to see them.
I had serious concerns about the feet of Frida and Finty,
and I'm just hoping that Arthur the farrier
has been able to weave his magic.
So here's keeping my fingers crossed.
Rachel. Hello, all right?
Nice to see you again. Yeah. And yourself, yeah.
How are you getting on? Doing very well, actually.
Last time I saw you, we were talking about putting shoes on.
It's a glue-on shoe.
I remember we were talking about creating a bigger, flatter platform
for them to stand on and spread the weight around.
It was Frida that I was particularly concerned about
because her radiographs were the worst.
So that's good. We're seeing signs of improvement.
It's going the right way, and hopefully,
we can help more and keep her comfortable, really.
It's all about comfort on her.
Good girl.
It was really upsetting news.
I think in the back of our minds, we knew that that could be the case
from how bad their hooves were when they came.
That's it, good girl.
'But having the gel shoes on, their mobility has improved a lot.'
That makes me feel more relieved
So far, keeping fingers crossed
we're heading in the right direction.
This is the sort of stuff that my wife would wrap my sandwiches with.
It's exactly what it is. Yeah. ARTHUR LAUGHS
After that reassuring update... There we go.
...Peter's about to meet the charity's most famous patron.
And donkeys in need couldn't have anyone
of much higher stature in their corner
than acting legend Damejudi Dench.
Oh, beauty.
Oh, hello. Jude.
I can't tell you what an honour and a pleasure this is.
How lovely to meet you. Ancl you. My daughter, Finty.
Hello. Finty. Pleased to see you.
Well, I can see you've got your fan club round you already.
Well, this is an old friend of mine.
But you really are a true animal lover, aren't you?
I think we always have been, yes. I've always had...
During the war, I was brought up in York,
we had 14 cats.
So, can I say you're a Yorkshire woman?
You certainly can say I'm a Yorkshire woman.
Proud Yorkshire woman, I think. Ancl you, a Yorkshire man?
Well, 20 miles north of you in Thirsk, yes.
That'll just about do. HE LAUGHS
Well, I don't know whether you've got one or not.
And, you know, it's not exactly priceless,
but it's a Yorkshire rose.
You may have one already. I haven't got one.
Have you not? How lovely.
We've always been passionate about donkeys.
Always. Well, how can you not?
Well... Look at this person.
So, this is Lolita, I believe, isn't it?
This is Lolita. Who you've adopted.
Yes. Lolita's a Poitou donkey.
They're such lovable, big teddy bears in many ways, I think.
Look at those great ears.
Well, to me, they always look as if
they've had a hard party the night before.
They always look a bit dishevelled to me.
You've been offended now.
You're very, very shocked about what you said.
Would you mind having a look at a couple of donkeys
that I'd like you to meet?
Would they like to meet me, Peter?
Well, they haven't said otherwise, so I'm sure,
yes, I'm sure they'd love to. Fine.
THEY LAUGH
Come on, Elvis, shape yourself, man. It won't be a blue Christmas...
Be brave, Elvis. ..but is Elvis's owner all shook up?
I'm not gonna look.
And as well as castrating the King, has Peter offended a dame?
Oh, charming. You're a Thirsk man if ever I met one.
Oh, no, no, no! LAUGHTER
PETER DAVISON: During his 40 years as a Yorkshire vet...
He's a real bobby-dazzler, isn't he? He's beautiful.
...Peter has always loved helping donkeys...
It's a thermometer. I'm going to stick it up your bum.
...which feels even more magical during the festive season.
What a little cutie. LAUGHTER
Didn't like the thermometer, did you, Gabriel?
Top of Peter's Christmas list this year
is to see as many donkeys as possible happy, healthy
and rehomed.
You know, I think I could live here. Yes, me too.
In Cornwall, he's introducing Flicka Foundation patron
Damejudi Dench and her daughter, Finty,
to the sanctuary's most recent success stories.
Well, I'd like you to meet Frieda and Finty, another Finty.
Oh, Frieda. Hello, Finty.
Hello, sweet.
Oh, beautiful.
Oh, my. So how long have they been in, these two?
These two have been here about four months now.
When they came in, they were walking very, very badly
because of the pain in their feet.
Ancl clue to the care of the farrier,
gradually is making big improvements.
Oh, clear. Well, how lucky they were.
How lucky. You got very lucky.
There we are.
But they're very gentle creatures, aren't they?
Ancl even though they've been neglected so,
it just shows... They're trusting.
Yeah. The trust is there, isn't it?
But these are two of the lucky ones.
Because we've all adopted a donkey, or several donkeys,
we feel part of the family...
...and a remarkable family it is too,
the way they're looked after is just wonderful.
Beautiful. Beautiful. Beautiful.
Jude, I've seen you for so many years
in doing the fantastic work that you've clone.
Ancl we have in common our love for donkeys.
And, you know, you're ambassador here at the Flicka Foundation,
I'm the ambassador at the Donkey Sanctuary,
and I feel very privileged to be.
So how do you feel about it? I quite agree.
Ancl this place is so beautifully run to have donkeys brought in
in some kind of state,
and then to gradually be able to work on them and work with them.
Ancl it just does you good, doesn't it,
to come here and see them?
It is uplifting, isn't it? It certainly is.
I mean, what surroundings they have here, how lucky they are.
But we also have something else in common, haven't we?
The fact that we're both from Yorkshire.
Oh, God's own country. Through and through.
You've got the badge to prove it. I certainly have the badge.
I love it, thank you.
But Damejudi won't be the only one.
I'll put a couple of badges in as well for you.
Oh, just any old person gets a badge.
LAUGHTER
Oh, charming. You're a Thirsk man if ever I met one.
LAUGHING: No, n0!
Because you come from Yorkshire, here's a lovely badge for you.
Oh, no, everyone's having a badge. LAUGHTER
Oh, no.
Because of his day job in North Yorkshire,
Peter knows if he succeeds in his mission to find a forever home
for some rescue donkeys, just how loved they'll be.
Elvis! CLICKS TONGUE
Elvis.
Elvis is Beattie and her niece Lizzie's little donkey,
who, unlike some of those Peter's met recently,
has had all the care and attention he needs...
KISSING NOISES, BEATTIE LAUGHS
...from day one.
I've a history with Elvis going back to when he was first born.
Ancl Elvis had it pretty rough at the start.
Obviously he's going there. Yeah.
We don't know how much he's taking. No.
The other thing is,
we don't know what the quality of the milk's like.
He spent some time in the equine hospital
and had to have a plasma infusion.
But he's made a miraculous recovery, and he's our little miracle baby.
Elvis is now old enough to be a handful in other ways.
He's on the loose! LIZZIE SHRIEKS
So Peter and his colleague Hannah are here
to perform a vital operation...
Let's rock 'n' Roll.
...with the assistance of budding vet Lizzie.
Good morning. Good morning. How are you?
Very well. How are you? I mustn't grumble.
Ancl how are you, Lizzie? She'll be supervising us, won't you?
Keeping us right? Yeah.
Lizzie, this is your first ever surgery.
So, are you nervous? No.
I don't know how you do it, because I get nervous.
I think Elvis is nervous? Elvis has every right to be.
Elvis is backing away.
We're going to carry out a castration on Elvis this morning.
It's an operation that needs doing. Come on, Elvis.
They can become a little mischievous with testicles.
Come on, Elvis, shape yourself, man. Come and get the apple.
Oh, it's better castrated, and it saves any mishaps happening
so he can run with the ladies as well.
Right. Hannah's just going to have a listen to his heart.
Hannah's in charge of the an aesthetic.
Nice and steady. Be brave, Elvis.
Do you think he's got a suspicious mind?
THEY CHUCKLE
HANNAH: A little less conversation, please.
THEY LAUGH
It looks like he's going to sleep. Well, I hope he does.
Come on, darling, let's go.
Where do you want him, Peter? Yeah, that'll be lovely.
Peter's been witnessing the lengths dedicated animal lovers will go to
in their quest to help donkeys.
I'm not gonna look. There's no blood, darling.
It's only going to be a little bit. OK, I'll have a look, then.
And he can see there's also hope for the future.
When I'm older, I want to be a vet like Peter.
There's a lot of injured pets in the world,
so maybe I could give them a little bit of help.
Lovely, Elvis, these are the bits we want.
Let's crack on.
In my opinion, donkeys aren't as straightforward
as castrating a pony or a horse.
The tissues are much more delicate,
which makes the operation a little more tricky.
That's one off.
You go in the other side now.
How are we doing with it?
We've got both testicles removed now.
Elvis is quite happy.
He knows nothing about what's going on.
Lizzie is quite rightly asking relevant questions,
as I was expecting a supervisor to do.
How are you getting on now?
You are a taskmaster, aren't you?
Come on, mister. Well, that's a lovely recovery.
He's back on his feet now,
and Elvis is now going to enter the building.
PETER LAUGHS
Elvis is very special.
I think he's one of the sweetest donkeys that you could meet.
I just don't understand how anybody could hurt these wonderful animals.
He's got nothing but personality,
and everybody loves him, and I think he's a wonderful pet.
He has a very kind face as well,
and I think he's got a long and happy and healthy life ahead of him.
Good boy, aren't you? Who's a good donkey?
From an uplifting day with a young girl who dotes on her donkey
to one of the worst cases of animal neglect that Peter has ever seen.
He's heading back to Donkey Sanctuary HQ for an update.
Well, here I am in sunny Devon again,
and I'm on my way to meet some donkeys from Operation Dawn.
DONKEYS BRNHNG
Some time ago, I saw footage of these donkeys
on the evening that they were rescued,
and it was a very sorrowful sight.
So, I'm coming today to see how The Donkey Sanctuary have fared
with them, how they're getting on,
and to see the progress that's been made.
Morning, Josie. Hi, Peter. How are you doing?
These are Operation Dawn donkeys, aren't they?
How are you getting on with them now? I'm desperate to ask.
They're doing so well.
They've really blossomed in our care.
So, yeah, it's a really proud moment
to see them so happy and healthy now with us.
DONKEY SNORTS, PETER ANDjOSIE LAUGH
I think looking at this group
and the clips that we saw when they were first rescued,
it's almost like looking at a different group of animals, really,
not only physically, but mentally as well.
SNORTS
I'm not sure whether it was you that undid my shoelace or not.
You're looking innocent, but I'm not so sure that you are.
LAUGHS
There's a pair of donkeys I'd quite like you to meet, if you like.
Yes, I'd love to. We'll go this way.
Well, I'll see you later, children.
With the legalities of the complex rescue case now tied up,
josie's had an exciting update about two of the Operation Dawn donkeys.
This is Linda and Lola.
These guys came in much like the rest of the group,
with poor dental health, overgrown feet,
matted coats, heavy lice burden.
Ancl then once we'd sorted out their health problems,
we could then start to see their characteristics,
and it was obvious that they had a bond with each other.
They would spend all their time together, eat together,
sleep together, which was lovely to see.
So presumably, then, you're going to be looking for a home
for these two together.
We are looking to rehome these two. Oh, how lovely.
Would you like to give them a little treat?
Oh, I'd love to. Josie CHUCKLES
PETER LAUGHS
It's very obvious to see that the work that Ben and Josie have clone,
from when we saw the clips of all these donkeys that came in
on Operation Dawn.
And you now see how the character's developed,
been brought out, getting them to show their trust in humans again.
Now we're seeing the full character as it should be.
Now, then, there we are. Go on, Lola! That's it.
Last one now. We're out of carrots now.
PETER LAUGHS
The charity has sites all across the UK
where rescues await their new homes.
So after a busy morning at the practice in North Yorkshire...
PETER EXHALES
Prickly little customer, aren't you?
...Peter's made the short trip to Malton...
...to meet two donkeys who've been on the waiting list
for over 16 months.
Who is this, Charly? This is Ned.
So, Ned and his friend jack were living on an allotment somewhere.
Ancl myself and my colleagues are sort of the front-line
in terms of looking after donkeys
that are in welfare compromised positions.
So we do see some horrible things
that you would never wish on any donkey.
Since you've had them here,
have you noticed a change in them at all?
They were both quite timid initially when they first came here,
and Ned's come on in leaps and bounds.
He very much enjoys being around people and a good scratch.
Jack will enjoy that if he gets to know you.
He's just a little bit timid initially,
so he's looking for a home where someone's got that time to spend
with him to build that trust and that confidence.
With his mission to see as many donkeys as possible
living happily ever after by Christmas...
While Ned's been having our undivided attention,
jack has thought it was worth gradually,
slowly but surely, sidling over to see us as well.
...Peter is daring to dream.
It would be absolutely great if we could find these two a home
and free up a bit more space for the donkeys that are in need.
Ancl so if we could find a place in Yorkshire for these two lads,
then I'll be very happy.
All you want is someone to love you long-term,
in't it, that's all you want?
Ancl your pal, jack, to be with you.
And then you're happy then, aren't you?
Ancl we'll make sure.
If it's at all possible, somewhere in beautiful Yorkshire.
Still to come...
I'm going to be there as soon as I can.
...with Peter's donkey work nearly done,
will it end with a new home for Christmas?
Hi, Peter. Glad you made it.
LIZZIE: Elvis!
PETER DAVISON: With Christmas fast approaching...
Come here, boy.
...in his aim to find some donkeys in care
a loving home and doting owner... Aw.
...Peter is running out of time.
He's been on a journey that's shown him
just how much work goes into rehabilitating mistreated donkeys.
And after a call from The Donkey Sanctuary,
about two of those rescued in the infamous mission Operation Dawn,
he's come to meetjosie in Suffolk...
Josie. Hi, Peter.
...which is where they found Linda and Lola a forever home
with Anne and Nick.
Hello. Hiya. Do you remember these two?
Yes. Do you know? They've been on our minds, really, Nick.
They're just so calm.
They settled in here just so well, it's just been amazing.
They look great. They look really good.
Really happy. Hi.
You have a different story to tell because you were involved
with this horrendous rescue, Operation Dawn,
when it was on such a huge scale.
It's amazing to see how far they've come from when they arrived to now.
This is what we wanted, isn't it?
Isn't it? A happy ending.
Well, when you see the lab ours of your love and the end result,
it must be very satisfying for you.
Yeah, it's really rewarding,
and it makes everything, all the hard work really worthwhile
to see them come somewhere like this,
clearly enriching Nick and Anne's life as well as their own.
They have definitely have enriched our lives in the last few weeks.
Absolutely amazing. Yes.
After a stressful day, you just sit and stroke them
for half an hour and forget about everything.
They're so trusting as well, given where they were from
and how they were kept and how far they've come.
It's really lovely to see, isn't it?
No, I think they came to the right place. Definitely.
No doubt about that, is there? PETER LAUGHS
Do you like your new home? I think you do, don't you?
I'm going to go away very happy, as I'm sure you are as well.
Ancl I think all we need do now is wish Nick and Anne,
and of course Lola and Linda, a very happy Christmas.
And I'm sure they“ have one.
My work's clone now, and I'm gonna head off for Christmas.
Back up home. Back up north.
But as Peter heads for home,
there might just be time for one more Christmas miracle.
Hello, Charly. How are you?
CHARLY: '|'m just ringing with some good news.'
Going to be there as soon as I can.
He recently met two donkeys at the sanctuary in Malton,
and he was desperate to find a home in Yorkshire for Ned and jack.
Charly. Hi, Peter. Glad you made it.
Fantastic news. Yes, brilliant news.
Hello, children. You're going to a forever home.
You'll be really pleased to know they're staying in Yorkshire, Peter.
Oh, boys. You're staying in God's own country!
It doesn't get any better than that, does it?
What greater Christmas present could you have than that, 'ey?
Be a good boy, Ned. Up steps.
The home that they're going to is lovely,
and the lady just wants to spend time with them.
And because new owner Leslie needed everything to fall into place
before fulfilling this dream...
I've waited years and years,
so I wasn't sure whether the donkeys would actually arrive
before or after Christmas.
...she's had plenty of time to plan her life with Ned and jack.
Hello, Jack.
Just sitting here, spending time with them, looking after them.
Caring for them how they should've been cared for from the beginning.
You can't ask for anything more for Christmas.
Look where we are, Jack.
This is your new home where you'll spend the rest of your happy life,
and you're best pal's with you as well, in't he?
Oh. Hi, Leslie.
Leslie, nice to see you. Aw.
Here's jack and Ned to come and stay with you in their forever home.
They are so beautiful, to get my hands on them.
You would agree, wouldn't you? Hello, jack.
Hello.
I did make the Christmas wish
that wherever they were homed, it just had to be Yorkshire.
Ancl you fulfilled my dreams as well as theirs.
Mine too.
Ancl they deserve the best. They do, and they'll get it.
It looks as if they've got it.
It's just unbelievable. It's brought tears to my eyes.
I've waited years and years and years.
It's just like a final picture.
Well, Lesley, as the saying goes,
"A donkey's for life, not just for Christmas."
Absolutely. But actually, they are here for Christmas.
They are. Ancl I think they're going to have a very, very happy Christmas
and many, many more. Every Christmas thereafter, yeah.
Shall we go and have a look? Come on, then.
And explore all this. PETER CH UCKLES
Look how they've settled in.
It's as if they've been here all their lives. It is.
I think Ned and jack both look as if they've lived here
for some considerable time.
Ancl I know they're going to get lots of love and care from Leslie
in the future.
It's happening already.
Here they are now, at their forever home.
As it's Christmas, and there's plenty to celebrate,
Peter's decided he'll be Santa...
Thank you.
...handing out the gifts and eyeing up the mulled wine
with Ned and jack getting Rudolph's carrots.
Cheers, and here's the best Christmas ever for Ned and Jack.
# Little donkey, little donkey
# On the dusty road
# Got to keep on plodding onwards
# With your precious load... #
When I set out on my donkey journey, I wanted to learn a little bit more
about the work that the sanctuary do.
But if truth be told, I've learnt an awful lot more than that.
# Little donkey, little donkey
#journey's end is near... #
We have some of the most dedicated people in the country
working tirelessly to save donkeys.
Ancl thanks to these fantastic people,
these animals are learning to trust humans once again.
# Little donkey... #
There's a lot more work to do,
and a lot more donkeys that need our help.
But when I'm enjoying this Christmas at home with my friends and family,
I'm going to be thinking about Ned and jack
in their forever home in Yorkshire.
Ancl as a donkey lover, a vet and a Yorkshire man,
that's the best Christmas present that I could possibly have.
# Little donkey, carry Mary
# Safely on her way. #