News stories
Tufty set to retire at the end of the season
Adoption favourite Tufty the donkey will retire to Redwings Hapton HQ in early November.
Tufty currently lives at our Caldecott centre near Great Yarmouth but when the centre closes for the Winter in early November, this beloved donkey is set to retire permanently to our Hapton site, where our vet team will be able to keep a closer eye on him.
In recent weeks Tufty has begun showing signs of stiffness in his back legs and has been losing some muscle condition, both of which are often the telltale signs of arthritis. The vet team has carried out extensive tests, and unfortunately these tests have also revealed that Tufty has a low-grade liver condition.
As treatment of arthritis involves the use of painkillers that can affect the liver in some animals, Tufty’s condition will now have to be very carefully monitored. In addition, he may require specialist feeding, particularly through the Winter months, to ensure he maintains condition. We decided it would be best for Tufty if he came to live near our vet centre on a permanent basis.
If you adopt Tufty you will receive a letter explaining this decision in more detail but don't worry, as you will be able to continue adopting Tufty exactly as before - this retirement simply means he will no longer live at our Caldecott centre next season.
All being well, Tufty will remain at Caldecott this year until it closes at the end of the season. As a special treat, we have now extended the Caldecott opening until Sunday 2nd November so you have even more chances to come along and visit! Click here to find out more about the Caldecott Visitor Centre.
Once Tufty returns to Hapton we will still be delighted for him to receive visitors. As our Hapton HQ is not generally open to the public, we would ask you to please telephone in advance to make an appointment on 01508 481000 or by emailing info@redwings.co.uk so we can ensure he is available to meet you. Even better, our Christmas Open Weekend at Hapton takes place on 6th and 7th December this year, which will also provide the perfect opportunity to see Tufty and take advantage of the chance to explore our Hapton centre at the same time. Please telephone 0870 040 0033 for more information.
We are so grateful for your understanding on this matter. Tufty is very special to all of us and we hope he will really benefit from his retirement. If you have any questions, please do feel free to get in touch and of course we will try and keep you up to date on how he is getting on through this site.
And don't forget, there is still time to take out an adoption of Tufty, which will help us give him all the special care he needs - view our adopting section for more information.
