I must admit,that, apart from when I was a small girl in the forties and in the Donkey Sanctuaries, I have not seen donkeys in the U.K. for a very long time.
However, far from being a dying breed, donkeys are still used as Beasts of Burden in many parts of the world, especially in Third World Countries ~~ they are wide-spread throughout Africa where they are used a Beats of Burdon and often kept as pets.
An annual Donkey Derby event is still held in some of the African countries during which, great fun is had, trying to make these, very stubbon creatures, reach the winning post, without taking you on a grand tour of the grounds in which the events were held. The donkeys seeemed to enjoy themselves as much as the riders ~ perhaps this was because of the abundance of carrots being fed them!
It is a common sight to see, school children in out-lying areas, riding donkeys to and from school. leaving them in a paddock-like field, for the donkeys to do what donkeys do, whilst the children are at lessons.