Premier League champions Arsenal have donated around 40 pairs of football socks to donkeys at the Red Wings Horse Sanctuary, in a gesture aimed at protecting the animals during the summer months. Speaking to GB News, the sanctuary's Nicola Knight said the donation had already proved a hit with the rescued animals in their care.
The main purpose of the socks is to shield the donkeys' legs from fly bites. Knight explained that donkeys have very sensitive skin, and that the football socks are ideal for the job because they are nice and long, stay up well, and are tight-fitting. The pairs Arsenal sent are also footless, which makes them especially suitable for the animals.
Beyond keeping flies away, the socks have several other uses at the sanctuary. Staff use them to cover bandages and keep them clean while horses and donkeys are receiving veterinary care, and they can be fitted on head collars to stop them rubbing. The socks even serve as enrichment, with bananas and other treats hidden inside for the animals to find.
Red Wings Horse Sanctuary cares for around 1,000 rescued horses and donkeys, including roughly 90 donkeys, all of which have come from situations of neglect or cruelty. The charity is based in Norfolk, with a centre in Harlow in Essex as well, and the donkeys featured are kept at its Caldecott Centre near Great Yarmouth.
According to Knight, the partnership came about when Arsenal approached the sanctuary earlier in the year and asked whether the horses and donkeys would like some socks. After checking with their vet team, staff agreed to a trial. A sample was sent, the socks worked brilliantly, and the club has since sent a larger batch for the animals.
Most of the donkeys are happy to wear the socks, though Knight admitted that one particular animal, known as Dave the Donkey, is never very keen. The rest take to them well, and with treats tucked inside, the socks double as a toy the animals enjoy playing with as part of their daily enrichment.
There is also a personal link between the club and the cause, with Arsenal forward Kai Havertz keeping his own rescued donkeys in Germany. Knight said the sanctuary was grateful for the gesture from Arsenal and hopeful that the club might donate further items in the future to support its work.