In January 1997 thirteen donkeys were rescued from appalling conditions in Co Wexford. Many of the mares in this group were in foal when they came in and subsequently gave birth here at The Sanctuary.

Lorraine gave birth to Jacinta one of our adoption donkeys and Tiffany, who we featured on our website recently, gave birth to Noelie and are now in a new foster home in Co Mayo.

Another donkey from this rescue group is Irene and we are so pleased that she and a donkey called Rua have gone out to a lovely new foster home this week in Co Roscommon. Irene herself gave birth to a beautiful white donkey we named September who subsequently went to our UK Sanctuary and only this week she was featured on their website (Welcome to September) and is living happily on one of their outlying farms.

Irene and Rua were originally fostered by St Josephs School for deaf boys in Dublin but due to the closure of the farm area at the school this year they were both returned to us. They loved all the attention they received at the school and we thought that they would make beautiful foster donkeys for a loving new home.

As Irene and Rua settle in to their new home we are looking forward to stories about their progress from their new owners, it’s lovely to see donkeys that came from such bad conditions living out the rest of their lives in a loving environment.

No breeding policy

The Donkey Sanctuary does have a no breeding policy but if a donkey that has been relinquished into our care is already pregnant, then the foal is given sanctuary too.

Related links

Adopt a donkey
Fostering donkeys
Tiffany and Noelie settle into their foster home
Welcome to September