The Donkey Sanctuary is celebrating the fifth anniversary of its state-of-the-art donkey hospital near Honiton with a live broadcast from the site. 

The hospital at Brookfield Farm has treated more than 1,500 donkeys since 2017, including those from both inside and outside the sanctuary, and has provided training to veterinary surgeons and students.  

It is equipped with the most up to date facilities for treating donkeys, including ultrasound, endoscopy and laser therapy for skin tumours. Through its work, The Donkey Sanctuary has been able to share its growing body of specialist knowledge and experience around the world. 

To celebrate the anniversary, the charity’s award-winning Sanctuary From Your Sofa returns for a live broadcast from the hospital at 3pm on Saturday, October 29, which will be available to watch via the charity’s website.  

Viewers will be taken on a virtual tour of the hospital and will hear from veterinarians about the work they do there. They will also see some of the hospital’s in-patients.  

 The hour-long broadcast will also feature The Donkey Sanctuary’s Ambassador Peter Wright. The star of Channel 5’s The Yorkshire Vet will be live in the studio to answer questions, and viewers will be able to watch a pre-recorded film of Peter helping veterinary surgeon Vicky Grove during a routine operation on a resident donkey.  

Peter said: “It is an absolute pleasure to be here in Devon to mark the five-year anniversary of The Donkey Sanctuary’s donkey hospital. Since it opened in 2017, more than 1500 donkeys and their companions have passed through the doors of this remarkable facility.  

 “What always impresses me is the care, knowledge and the warmth of the staff here at The Donkey Sanctuary. I feel so privileged that through my role as ambassador I get to work some fantastic people, including carrying out operations alongside vets like Vicky, who I know put everything into their work.  

 “What I find really thrilling is that this hospital, with its capacity to offer world-class treatment and training, is just one part of the charity’s work to ensure the donkeys in their care, and across the world, have a much better future.”

To view the broadcast, visit the Donkey Sanctuary's website.