The Donkey Breed Society is the British Society for everyone whose love and interest is in the donkey. Founded in 1967, the Donkey Breed Society seeks to encourage a fuller and more active life for those donkeys who are much loved family pets or companions to other animals. We believe that a donkey is not just an ornament for your paddock and that a busy donkey is invariably a happier donkey. For more information about the society and its aims, please click here To join, you can either download an application form, print it, complete the details and mail it back to us with your cheque for the correct amount made payable to the Donkey Breed Society -- or you can join right now by using the online application form and pay using your credit or debit card.

Hard to believe but here we all are another year older, and already talking about 2010 and an  AGM in Colchester.

Mrs Fooks and the Western Region members did us proud, having attracted a larger presence in the meeting room and at dinner, than we have had for a number of years.   The room was enhanced with displays from the committees and regions, and the entries in the 'Donkey LIfe' competition.

We wished Carole Travell the outgoing chairman goodbye, with a gift of a showing cane, and welcomed David Capps to the hot seat; I am sure everyone will join me in wishing him a happy and progressive  term as Chairman.
We also welcomed our new President at the AGM Donald Demus had served his three year term (just where does the time go?) and the council had kept its cards very close to its chest as to who the new holder of the office would be. Their choice was universally welcomed when the very popular Sue Ansdell was named as Donald's successor (see photo right)
Click on the photo to see more pictures from the AGM
At the end of the informal business David Cook from the Donkey Sanctuary entertained us with a lighthearted but informative talk on his role as Chief Executive and how the Donkey Sanctuary were facing up to the demands of the 21st century and the credit crunch.

The room assumed a festive scene for dinner, with tables enhanced by Poinsettia in hand made donkey embellished plant holders, eeyore balloons and jolly felt stockings containing polo mints for our best friends.  The atmosphere was convivial, the food was good; what more could one want but to be in the company of like minded donkey lovers. 

Thank you Jean it has been a wonderful weekend. 

As many of you will be aware the government are planning another iniquitous tax on equine owners, and that includes us humble donkey folk. The Donkey Breed Society did make submissions against this during the consulation stage but it is now the turn of owners to do their bit, or face an ongoing annual bill for every donkey owned, starting at an estimated £10 per head, but undoubtedly increasing over time.  You can go on line to www.rethinkthehorsetax.org/ and either sign the petitition or download a letter of objection which you can send to your local MP.

We have had 'calendar girls' and 'calendar boys',  2011 will be the year of the 'Calendar Donkeys'   We are launching a competition to find an  appropriate donkey image for each month of the year to feature in a professionally printed calendar to be sold on behalf of the Donkey Breed Society from September 2010.   Please send your image in the largest file possible, attached to an email to,  photoeditor@donkeybreedsociety.co.uk giving donkey's name, owner and where the photograph was taken.  If you do not have a digital image but would prefer to send an original photograph please email info@donkeybreedsociety.co.uk for mailing instructions.  The competition is ongoing, closing at the end of August 2010.