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Thursday 22nd May 2008 - NEWS UPDATE, 9.30pm In what has been a whirlwind 4 days, we are stunned to be able to report that tonight we have not only achieved our $25,000 target, we have in fact exceeded it. The total of Lonegan's fund stands tonight at an unbelievable $30,530. Not in our wildest dreams did we anticipate so huge and rapid a response to our campaign to fund the correction and treatment of·this dear little foal's·limb deformity. We know too that still more donations are in transit, so even this astounding figure will be exceeded. Those of you who have read· the "How the Fund will Work" page (see above menu) will know that any monies remaining in the bank after his veterinary costs have been met, will be disbursed to 2 charities; 50% to the Donkey Sanctuary and 50% to the Princess Margaret Orthopaedic Dept for the treatment of an underprivileged child/children. You are therefore still welcome to donate to Lonegan's fund, knowing that your money will not only help pay for his treatment but will benefit 2 other worthy causes. Alternatively, you could make a donation in Lonegan's name to another charity of your choosing. On behalf of Lonegan and Barbara, we thank all of you for your caring, your generosity and the many wonderful loving·messages·of support you have sent these last 4 days. Lonegan's story·has truly touched so many people worldwide and we feel humbled and very grateful to you all. Sometimes the world is a very wonderful place to be. This website will be maintained and updated for as long as Lonegan's treatment to his legs continues; this will be ongoing, as he grows and matures. We look forward to the day that we can post photos of Lonegan playing in a paddock with his brother on legs to take him to maturity and a good donkey life. 
11 May 2008. Meet Donegan and Lonegan, a pair of very rare miniature donkey twins. There are only 3 other sets known to have been born live in the world. These dear little foals were born at Willowdale Donkey Stud located in the beautiful South West corner of Western Australia on 29th ·March 2008. No one was more surprised when not one but two foals appeared than their breeder Barbara Bracken. The news of this rare event quickly spread and a front-page article was published in the local community paper, followed quickly by ABC radio stories all over Australia. A huge audience following has grown, when photos and video clips were featured on ABC websites. It would have been a very tight fit inside their jenny mother Fantasy, and that tight fit has left little Lonegan with an acute problem. His front legs are badly knock-kneed, meaning he cannot walk properly. Specialist help was urgently needed. This little guy is a real fighter and euthanasia unthinkable. He has proved he is determined to live but his leg deformity means he is walking on the sides of his legs instead of his little hooves. In turn this causes further problems to his muscles and shoulders. As almost no specialist knowledge to correct such a problem in donkeys is known, who could we approach for help? Who better than the ABC TV program “Can We Help?” They contacted the top specialist at Murdoch Veterinary Hospital and Lonegan was soon on his way for a consultation. After X-rays and examination he was fitted with casts on his problem front legs to help strengthen them. But this is only the beginning of his treatment, which is likely to be prolonged over 3 years while he grows and his legs develop. He is likely to need operations to pin one or both of his knees. This highly technical specialist care will be expensive, and there is no Medicare for donkeys! 
Lonegan has won the hearts of everyone who knows his story. The feedback to all the media articles and interviews has been enormous. The community interest has been extensive and readers and listeners have been asking for updates on his progress. This website has been developed to give everyone an opportunity to do so. We also need practical help in the form of donations, no matter how small, to finance his ongoing veterinary treatment so that he can walk property and enjoy a good donkey life with his devoted brother Donegan.
If you would like to help with a donation, please click on this link . You can also read more about this campaign on our other pages. |
