The Donkey Sanctuary has a team of 12 area welfare officers, two regional welfare officers and a welfare manager who monitor donkey welfare across the country. Their work is one of the ways that your generous donations are put to use and we would not be able to offer this service without your support.
Any donkey, whether privately owned, in one of our foster homes, pets or working donkeys - they are all of interest to our staff who are on call 365 days a year to offer advice and help or investigate reports of concern.
Last year we took in 102 donkeys to our Isolation Unit here at the Sanctuary - compared to 66 in 2006 and 61 in 2007. That's an average of two donkeys per week, every week. As you can see - this number has grown in the past year - a trend we are very aware of and which is possibly due to the general pressure on people's finances which leaves them unable to afford to keep their animals.
On top of their work with our foster homes, our welfare officers made 127 welfare advice visits last year and investigated 127 complaints. The complaint investigations entailed tracking down donkeys reported to us, often strays, with minimal information provided to help find them. This is a demanding role, but the donkeys are our priority and we strive to do everything we can to achieve a safe and secure future for them.
Each complaint that is received is logged on our database - we will often receive more than one call relating to the same donkey - and the nearest welfare officer is contacted to see if they can be of help. Our welfare officers are able to give valuable advice on feeding, housing, footcare and grooming and this is often gratefully received by owners who are then able to improve their donkeys' care and environment. Some owners readily admit they are unable to cope with their donkeys any longer, possibly due to old age or health problems and they are able to relinquish them into our care. Straying donkeys are a particular problem and often very difficult to find, but we have built up strong working relationships with the Gardai and ISPCA and work as a team to help the donkeys to safety.
We thank you for your help on the frontline, even more so in the current economic climate which makes every donation received even more precious towards providing refuge for these lovely animals.
How you can help us
Could you spare a regular donation that would allow us to plan for ongoing footcare? 18 Euros could buy a pair of protective plastic shoes to help donkeys with thin soles or laminitic conditions. These shoes wear out and usually need replacing each time the farrier takes them off to trim the donkeys' feet. New shoes are always needed. If you could help us it will help our growing donkey family with their needs.
