Skip to content

'I was petrified of donkeys, now I help save them'

Adele WilkinsonLeicester
News imageMenorca Donkey Sanctuary A donkey with a white nose stares into the camera, with a woman stood by him.Menorca Donkey Sanctuary
Jane White said donkeys had "their own little personalities"

"I was originally petrified of donkeys," said Jane White, but caring for them has now become her life.

Jane and her husband Dennis left Leicester for Menorca six years ago when Dennis was made redundant from a design company.

The couple were not expecting their new life to involve looking after donkeys on a Spanish island.

"We realised we really, really loved the animals and the interactions with the people," said Dennis.

News imageMenorca Donkey Sanctuary Dennis White is standing on the left with his arm around a brown donkey. There is another darker brown donkey stood in front of him, bowing it's head down to eat some grass. Dennis is wearing an olive zip up jacket with black arms, grey trousers and brown boots. He is also wearing glasses. On the right is his wife Jane White who is kneeling down, stroking the bowed head of another brown donkey which is eating grass. Jane is wearing a grey hoodie, over a grey shirt and grey jeans, with brown boots. Menorca Donkey Sanctuary
Dennis and Jane White have been volunteering at Menorca Donkey Sanctuary for five years

After establishing a more permanent residence in Menorca in 2020, the Covid lockdown began within days of their arrival.

When the restrictions were lifted, Jane and Dennis found Menorca Donkey Rescue, a self-funded charity, nearby.

Dennis, 59, said the volunteers were struggling, which led to him and his wife asking if they could help promote the sanctuary.

Since then, they felt "drawn in" and volunteer there every summer.

They help the lady who owns the sanctuary, Gundi Grass, by feeding 17 donkeys and making sure they are well cared for while she works full-time.

Dennis said: "When we moved over, we needed something to do and some structure, so we could enjoy the days off.

"We have also met people from all over and you see the good work the volunteers do, which inspires you to carry on and build on that and get more and more involved."

Jane, 54, said: "It becomes your life. I was originally petrified of donkeys, having mainly been used to dogs and domestic animals.

"But then all of a sudden, you're having to feed these big animals and you fall in love with them, and they've all got their own little personalities."

News imageMenorca Donkey Rescue Jane White is wearing a grey t shirt which says 'it's time to listen,' on it in blue writing. She is wearing blue denim shorts and is stood up with her hands on the back of one of the pigs at the sanctuary. Menorca Donkey Rescue
Jane has fallen in love with the donkeys and other animals at the sanctuary

The land is currently owned by three private owners who allow it to be used for the sanctuary.

Dennis and Jane White intend to buy the land, which they have said is now for sale, in order to keep the sanctuary going.

At the moment it is just Dennis, Jane and Gundi who run the facility, so they also intend to spend even more time there.

The couple have set up a GoFundMe page for donations.

Follow BBC Leicester on Facebook, on X, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to [email protected] or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2210.

More on this story