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racy Garton had run the Radcliffe Donkey Sanctuary for twenty years, creating a safe haven for more than sixty sick, unwanted and mistreated donkeys. But after a devastatingly difficult winter, with sky high bills, she didn't know if she could afford to carry on - or if she had the physical strength to keep going. Then, in the first week of January, the phone rang. A donkey had been abandoned 130 miles away. Rushing to his rescue Tracy found Alan - forlorn, balding and shivering - tethered up tightly in a supermarket car park. Barely able to walk on his painfully overgrown hooves, he had been left to die. Tracy ran her hands gently over Alan's protruding ribs, and whispered in his ear: 'Don't worry boy, I won't give up on you.'

Over the next twelve months, as Tracy grappled with attacks from vandals and perilous flash floods and desperately tried to raise money, Alan gradually recovered - turning into a loveable rogue. As Christmas rolled around, Tracy was too worried about the future to enjoy the festive season. She had no idea that the shy skinny animal she'd rescued was going to give her the greatest gift of all . . . Alan The Christmas Donkey is a funny, warm and inspiring read.

This is on its way to the winner of the Export an Animal Sweeps, hope you enjoy it :-)

Alan has arrived safe and sound, on The Day of Book and Rose of all days! He brought assorted tea bags with him :) Thank you!
Do I need a hankie when reading this? I've read Down Among the Donkeys years ago, a true story about setting up a Donkey Sanctuary. I was surprised to learn that neglected donkeys really are a problem in the UK. Last summer I saw one sanctuary from a bus window when travelling in the UK.

The temperature is below zero and we have frost on the ground, so it's finally time to read Christmas books.
I can fully understand how people decide not to have children, but wanting to have LOTS of animals puts me on guard, as LOTS of animals often equals not enough time for everybody and everything. The road to hell is paved with good intentions... I'm perhaps too negative, but I've seen the downside of too many animals a few times too often.

Still reading, but came here to comment that Tracy writes well, if she only finds the time, she should write more books.
Secondly, so far they have managed to keep the sanctuary going with donations, but it must be so nerve-wrecking to live constantly from hand to mouth with such a gang (30 donkeys + rescue birds). It wasn't mentioned here, but being a charity in Finland means a lot of paperwork towards the inland revenue to show that it's not some shady scheme to avoid taxes.
Brits are always said to be a nation of animal lovers, but I'm sorry to say that the general way of keeping animals would make Finnish people write letters of concern (e-mails nowadays) to the animal welfare people. So to get to the root to this donkey problem would be education - both the general public to notify officials if they see a neglected donkey and what keeping a donkey means, what are the minimum requirements for keeping one, and the breeders - do not sell a donkey to people unless... and a list of what should be required of the buyer. We have very few donkeys in Finland, so as far as I know they haven't become a problem for the animal rescue people.
In Finland the "bad" cases of neglect in general are usually linked with old age or mental problems of the owner, who does not realize he or she is no longer capable of taking care of animals or him-/herself.

Forgot to say that a one-way non-movable donation box is the only option in a place like that. One-way meaning that money only goes in through a hole, no open buckets. Non-movable meaning something bolted to the surroundings so that it would not be possible to nick it. Hopefully they have learned by now.
Finnish bookcrosser Peonio is having her birthday next week and first I thought of giving her this book, but she prefers books in Finnish, so I'm going to adopt a donkey in her name. Just sent Tracy an e-mail, because I 'm an old lady and don't know how to use PayPal, but I can make money transfers from my account. Actually I could give this book AND adopt a donkey in the name of my ex-workmate from the Academic Bookstore, I'm sure she'd love to read this and have a donkey for Christmas...
I was shocked to learn that Tracy is not a Christmas person!

Finished. I truly liked following everyday life at the Sanctuary. I'm happy to see from their web pages that a minimum donation is nowadays required from the visitors, but in my opinion it should be more than a pound! This may have something with taxes to do, otherwise it's insane, because all prises have gone up soooo much and some people seem to think the sanctuary is a free amusement park and picnic area.
I still haven't gotten a working account number for international payments from Tracy, but perhaps one day soon...

Update on the donkey-business: I've succeeded to adopt a donkey both to Peonio and Elisabeth. Let's see how long it takes for the diplomas to drop in the mailbox.

Wow, apart from the diplomas she sent us three Donkey Sanctuary calendars as well! Even I got one!

Going to a Christmas visit to Elisabeth tomorrow. She is going to get this book, the calendar and the adoption diploma, all in one parcel. And some other presents because she has been very good.
Merry Christmas!