It is with a heavy heart we have to contact you to let you know the very sad news that Cocoa passed away on Friday.
She was 22 years old and had been at the Sanctuary for 18 years. Her health and appetite had been declining recently and she had really failed so the very difficult decision to prevent her suffering was taken and she was put to sleep by our vet.
Cocoa was initially rescued from the meat trade in France by World Horse Welfare and was rehomed with us at the Scottish Donkey Sanctuary. She has always been a huge character with a mischievous streak loved by the staff and public, always first at the gate to say hello. She had a special friendship with Charlotte since she arrived and was the matriarch donkey in the oldies’ field and shed. Charlotte has been sad for a couple of days but now seems to have taken Cocoa’s position as head of the herd and is eating up well again.
Cocoa will be sorely missed by the staff as she was always the first donkey looking over the gate at feeding time and a very happy donkey in her little herd.