Settled in Morocco for more than 6 years, retired British lawyer Sue Machin has rescued more than 50 donkeys, hosting them in a shelter she has set up in the Marrakech region. Her story begins with the adoption of Tommy, the first donkey from Marrakech. She welcomed the animal on her property in the village of Oumnass, about 25 km away from Marrakech. Gradually «the family» got bigger: «Tommy was horribly hard to handle, and a friend recommended that we bring him a female (Jenny) to keep him company. A few months later, they were joined by Jerry, whose mother died giving birth to it, and so we had three donkeys as pets,» says The Australian. Sue, who was a volunteer at SPANA (Society for the Protection of Animals Abroad), created later a shelter for animals, welcoming more than fifty donkeys to this day. The shelter, named Jarjeer Mule and Donkey is like an «orphanage, a retirement home and a care center for 54 rescued animals». The retired woman hired eight people who maintain the stables and take care of the animals. The shelter financed by donations is to build an operating room for the donkeys. For the moment Sue Machin's shelter welcomes visitors, especially foreign tourists.
