Donkeys don pyjamas and don-gerees to stop insect bites

Donkeys at a sanctuary have been dressed in don-gerees and other unwanted clothing in a bid to help reduce irritation from insect bites.

The Donkey Sanctuary in Sidmouth, Devon is using donated trousers, leggings or pyjama bottoms to help protect the donkeys' legs from bites over the summer months.

The charity said the items were loose-fitting and cut to fit individual donkeys, which can get through several pairs a week.

Lisa Coles from the sanctuary said: "Even though the legwear may look a bit unusual at first glance, it really does make a difference to their welfare."

Coles said about 40 donkeys were wearing the garments and urged people to donate any unwanted items.

She said the sanctuary used to put socks on the donkey's legs to protect them but found they "kept falling down" so searched for "something that could cover the whole length of the leg".

She said insect bites were a "really big problem" and sprays and creams "don't last long enough or offer round the clock protection".

"It really does help, but some of them look a bit funny."

The clothes help "flap the flies away and the donkey's don't mind it" so it was "a good solution to a problem," she added.

The charity has appealed for any unwanted loose-fitting trousers, leggings, pyjamas, or maternity trousers, in women's size 16 up, and men's size large and up to ensure they would fit all its donkeys.

The sanctuary said it recently received a large donation from staff and students at the University of St Andrews in Scotland.

Coles said: "We want to look after the environment.

"It kind of works on every level, we recycling things that would have been thrown away and it's stuff charity shops can't sell."

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