Earlier this year, The Donkey Sanctuary Ireland was called in to help with one of our most complex welfare cases: the rescue and rehoming of a group of 20 abandoned donkeys in Galway.
Our welfare team found four pregnant mares and three foals in the group, who were taken to our sanctuary facilities. These will be the last mares and foals to be relinquished to the sanctuary for the foreseeable future.
Despite a difficult start, all four mares - Starling, Linnet, Dove, and Skylark - gave birth to healthy foals. While most of the new arrivals are now doing well, sadly, Linnet passed away not long after her foal, Milana, was born. Despite receiving veterinary treatment, Linnet was unable to recover after suffering from years of neglect.
A specialised feeding regime
Fortunately, our farm team was able to provide lifesaving support to Milana. When she was just 2 weeks old, they began bottle-feeding her, as her mother was producing little to no milk even before her passing. The bottle-feeds were administered every 3 hours, and as Milana grew older and started eating solids like milk pellets, grass, and haylage, the farm team gradually extended the intervals between bottle feeds. It only took Milana a few feeds to become accustomed to the bottle.
Bottle feeds continued for approximately 6-8 weeks, increasing in volume as Milana gained weight to ensure her proper growth and development. As she became stronger, the team transitioned her to a different feeding system, which they had to build themselves. The new system helped Milana to learn to drink milk on her own. This process took her a few more weeks to master, as the team needed to ensure she wouldn't overindulge and risk making herself sick or developing scour.
Milana getting milk from the feeder.
Finally, after more than three months of careful monitoring of her intake and being satisfied that she would not overindulge, the team moved Milana to a feeding system where they put milk in the feeder twice a day, and Milana can come and go as she pleases. They still record her intake to ensure she receives enough milk. Over the next 6-8 weeks, the farm team will gradually wean her off the milk as she approaches 6-7 months of age.
New companions
During this time, one of the other mares rescued in the Galway case, Starling, also took Milana under her wing. She accepted Milana as one of her own foals, alongside Tweety, who was born not long after the rescue.
In July, Milana, Starling, and Tweety moved to the Garden Barn. Although they had never been housed together before, they shared a shed and yard while in the new arrivals unit, divided by gates. This allowed the three to touch noses and become familiar with each other, while making sure that Starling would be receptive to Milana.
Milana with Tweety and Starling earlier this summer.
When they moved to the Garden Barn, this separation by the gates was maintained for a couple of weeks. Gradually, we started leaving Milana with Tweety and Starling but supervised by staff and for short periods. Over the course of a few weeks, we increased the time they spent together, and eventually, we reached a point where they could be left together 24 hours a day.
Now, when Milana is feeding from the milk feeder, both Tweety and Starling accompany her. The three donkeys spend all their time together, and Tweety and Milana have become best friends for life. Last month, the three were joined by some more of the group that had been rescued originally, forming a closely-knit community of donkeys in their new surroundings.
Milana (right) and Tweety (left) are now best of friends.
While the new foals bring smiles to everyone on our farms, they also highlight the ongoing challenges The Donkey Sanctuary faces with four more mouths to feed. Head of Donkey Welfare, Cathy Griffin, explains:
“In the past, we've tried to accommodate pregnant mares and foals on our farms, all while relentlessly aiding community-based donkeys and their keepers. However, we expect that these four foals will be the last born on our farms for a while, as we have reached our capacity for sanctuary-based care.”
Looking after donkeys like Milana takes time, care and resources and we couldn't do it without the support of people like you. If you want to help Milana, Tweety, Starling and all the other donkeys under our care, please consider becoming a regular giver today. Just €3 a month helps us provide the specialised care they deserve.
