Donkey Refuge, Sala Biellese
Donkey Refuge in Sala Biellese (Il Rifugio degli Asinelli) is a small area in the north of Italy, where they work on the rehabilitation of animals. Many donkeys that were used as pack animals are ill-treated by their owners. Here they are rehabilitated, both physically and psychologically.
History and mission
The center is the Italian branch of the English organization "The Donkey Sanctuary", founded in 1969. It is engaged in the rehabilitation of donkeys and their hybrids after the ill-treatment of people. In Italy, these ungulates are still used for different kinds of work, and often their life is not easy. In 2006, a center for their protection was established. And in 2009 it opened its doors to visitors.
The permanent mission of the center is to ensure the care, protection and permanent security of donkeys, mules and hinnies in difficult situations due to illness, inhuman treatment, poor living conditions or other circumstances of this kind. The basis of such activities is prevention, which includes appropriate educational activities in the park. Thus, the welfare of these animals in Italy is facilitated here.
Activities and events
The center is something between the park and the farm. Here ungulates live in relative freedom, and have excellent care and treatment if necessary. Today in the park there are more than 140 donkeys, mules and hinnies, collected mainly from Italy, but there are also some from Greece, Romania, France and Switzerland. Most of them did not see anything good in their life, and only single animals were given by the owners, who could not keep them. After the rehabilitation course, the donkey from the center can be given to the family, who will take care of it properly. There are already 22 of such animals.
Onoterapia is also provided in the center. This is a special kind of treatment used for children and adults with disabilities. In its process, people work with specially trained and friendly donkeys: they are cleaned, fed and takan care of. And yes, stupid donkey is a stereotype – workers of the center assure. Such events as donkey grooming and yoga in the company of these animals are regularly held in the park during the warm season.
How to get there
The rehabilitation center is located in the province of Biella, the commune of Sala Biellese, on Via per Zubiena, 62. It is surrounded by many forests that create excellent natural conditions for the rehabilitation of animals. Turin is about 70 km away. You need to leave from Torino Porta Nuova station by train, and ride to Biella. It is the central city of the province, from which you can get to the park by bus № 380, next to the city of Ivrea. If you are traveling by car, from Turin, follow the A5 motorway, turn to E25 before Ivrea, then take the road SP80 and SP338 to Zubiena, and follow signs to Sala Biellese.
Opening hours: from October to March – from 10:00 to 17:00, from April to September – from 10:00 to 18:30. Phone number of the center: (+39) 015 2551831.
Admission: a visit to the center, like all events in it, is free of charge. If you want, you can donate a certain amount for the needs of the center, both when visiting and online. Data of May 2018.
