This year we have seen a massive increase in abandoned donkeys throughout the country. Some of these donkeys are fit and healthy but due to the economic situation have been left in fields and on the side of the road to fend for themselves. Others are in terrible condition with overgrown hooves, matted coats, skin conditions and sarcoids.

61 donkeys came into our Isolation Unit this week... some of them coming from very sad situations where their owners loved them but for various reasons could not look after them any more.

Tiffany and Noelie left this week for their new home in Westport, Co Mayo. There was a lot of work involved in getting these two ready for foster. First they had to be medically fit to make sure they were in tip top shape for their journey. Then our grooms and quality time volunteers worked tirelessly on them to make sure they would be social and easy to handle for their new fosterers - last minute checks are always taken to make sure all is well.

Three young foals called Tai, Jai and Kai came into our care last November along with another young foal after their owner tried to sell them at a fair in Co Galway. As the owner failed to sell them, a concerned donkey owner bought the foals because of the condition they were in. Since he was not in a position to keep the foals, he immediately contacted The Donkey Sanctuary and our Welfare team made arrangements for the foals to be collected.

Tiffany seen here on the right came to the Sanctuary in February 1997 along with 6 other donkeys that were left to starve in a field in Co Wexford. She was in very bad condition with overgrown hooves and very thin. It was subsequently discovered that she was in foal and in August 1997 she gave birth to a colt foal. We called this little fellow Noelie. Tiffany was a brilliant mother to Noelie and they became very close.

Lizzy was rescued by a very kind lady from Co Mayo in 2008; she was in a terrible state and was near death. This lady brought her back to health and put Lizzy with her own donkeys where she subsequently got pregnant and gave birth to a foal called Cohan in May 2009. However it became clear that Lizzy needed specialist care so it was decided to relinquish Lizzy and Cohan to the Sanctuary in June 2009.