Donkeys bring festive magic to Queen Charlotte Care Home

West Hill Donkeys are popular with children on Weymouth beach, but a recent care home visit showed they are just as big a hit with the older generation.

Melanie Llewellyn took her award-winning donkeys Annie and Dainty along to Queen Charlotte Care Home, in Chickerell, for a festive visit and confessed that the reaction of residents “gave me goosebumps”.

She said: “One resident who has dementia and is normally non-verbal, suddenly came to life and had a full-blown conversation with the donkeys as he was stroking them.

“It is such  two-way relationship. The residents connect with the donkeys and they connect with them. It is amazing to see.”

She added that her donkeys also brought back happy memories of childhood rides on the beach; Annie and Dainty kept alive that British tradition on Weymouth beach throughout the summer.

Claire Sheppard, head of activities at the Kingsley Healthcare home which recently underwent a multi-million-pound extension and refurbishment, echoed the words of Melanie.

“There is certainly a magical connection. We love inviting the donkeys to Queen Charlotte,” she said.