Volunteering at the Corfu Donkey Rescue was honestly the highlight of my trip to Greece. The founder, Judy Quinn, moved to the Greek island from Britain to start the donkey sanctuary when she learned about how many donkeys were being abused and abandoned after they were no longer useful.
By: Heather Newgen
The Corfu Donkey Rescue is run by Judy and a group of volunteers, but she needs additional help. So if you’re an animal lover and want to give back, this is the perfect place to do it. Here’s the deal. You have to commit to volunteering for at least two weeks, and you take care of your meals and housing, but Judy can set you up in accommodations near the farm for just 10 euros a night. You’ll have weekends off, so you can explore and enjoy Corfu, which is such a beautiful island.
Corfu
And be prepared for hard work. It’s not easy working on a farm. Your main duties will be cleaning up the stalls and tending to the donkeys in any way they need.
If you have back issues, this probably isn’t the volunteer opportunity for you, but it’s the most rewarding way to get to know how magical donkeys really are. I admittedly didn’t know much about them ahead of time, but I learned firsthand just how loving and friendly they are. The second I stepped onto the Corfu Donkey Rescue, I was immediately surrounded by donkeys and they wanted to be petted and loved just like a cat or dog would. They are just the sweetest, and I’m dying to go back.
In addition to the donkeys, there are also cats and dogs, and all the animals are well cared for and loved. It’s such a great organization and I can’t rave about this place enough.
If you’re not able to volunteer, there are other ways to help out. Anyone is welcome to visit the Corfu Donkey Rescue and each person will get a guided tour around the farm (also something volunteers can do). People are able to interact with the donkeys and take as many photos as they’d like.
If you do stop by, you can bring bags of carrots and apples. The donkeys love them and as I mentioned earlier, CDR is run on donations, so they oftentimes don’t have these items on hand due to lack of funds.
Another awesome thing you can do “adopt” a donkey for about $110 USD a year. That money goes towards their food and upkeep.
And finally, you can leave a donation for the Corfu Donkey Rescue online or in person if you visit.
To see what my experience was like volunteering click here.