ANIMAL-lovers in Nailsworth are raising money to care for a mistreated and neglected donkey they rescued.

Mags was rescued by Nailsworth Donkey Sanctuary, her skinny body covered in painful sores and her hooves curled up and over making it difficult to walk.

Now Tim Powell and Dawn Cockell, both 57, who started the charity, have launched a fundraiser to pay for a farrier to trim her hooves and give her shoes.

“When she walks she looks like she is walking on tiptoes, she’s been in a lot of pain,” said Dawn.

“The shoes will help her walk more level and they will help her hooves to grow.”

But since her hooves have to be trimmed and have shoes put on every six to eight weeks and at a cost of £500 each time it’s not cheap.

As well as the fundraising page Tim and Dawn are hosting an auction at The George at Newmarket on Saturday, November 12 from 7pm-10pm with live music.

The dynamic duo take care of six donkeys at their sanctuary in Newmarket and started rescuing them entirely by chance.

Tim, who has a farming background and a lifelong passion for animals and donkeys, first rescued Gussy over 30 years ago, when she was left for dead in a field.

When Gussy needed a companion they came across some nice people who had April and who had already rescued Pedro, so they took them both.

Rolo was the next to join the team with Tim and Dawn taking on Mags and her foal Milly after Mags escaped the slaughter house.

Luckily for Mags she was not put down because she was in foal but the stress she was in made her foal early.

Since Mags was rescued she has been on the mend putting on weight and her sores have healed up.

She will be on medication from the vet for a good while longer and with care and attention her feet will take about a year before they are back to normal.

Meanwhile a rock garden which Tim and Dawn created just outside the sanctuary has been vandalised with plants and rocks strewn about the road.

The community however have rallied round to help and Morrisons supermarket, The George pub and others have donated some flowers for the couple to plant bringing the patch back to life again.

Stroud News and Journal:

To donate go to gofundme.com/2jqssqn8 and to follow updates about Mags from the donkey sanctuary go to http://bit.ly/2cNljCL