Assisting at the Leitrim Pony Riding and Animal Welfare Project
Donkey Welfare Adviser, Ian Colton recently assisted with the Leitrim Pony Riding and Animal Welfare Project with donkeys Phoenix and Baxi on behalf of The Donkey Sanctuary.
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Helping a solitary donkey called Dylan
Earlier this year the owners of a donkey named Dylan reached out to us for help as they were having difficulty handling and managing him. Welfare adviser Ciara O’Kelly responded and found that Dylan had lived as a solitary donkey for the past three years. Dylan had developed behavioural habits commonly seen when young male donkeys are kept without a suitable companion. Ciara recognised that Dylan would benefit from donkey company and appropriate human interaction and recommended that he come into our care.
Help us to care for donkeys like Echo
The start of a new life for Echo began when welfare adviser Jane Bruce responded to a report of a donkey with extremely long hooves. When she attended the location, she discovered Echo, a severely neglected donkey whose hooves were at least three times the length of normal hooves.
“The neglect of Echo’s hooves stands out as one of the worst cases that I have witnessed”, says Jane. “He was shifting his weight from one foot to another in order to alleviate the pain in his hooves. He could not be left to continue to suffer in this state”.
Seven foals rescued just in time
When we were alerted about a group of donkeys outdoors during a cold snap, we responded to help guarantee their well being.
In January, we received a call from a concerned member of the public about a group of donkeys in Kerry described as ‘underfed and miserable’. With a yellow
weather warning already in place for snow and ice, welfare adviser Ciara O’Kelly responded quickly.
How Donkeys Differ - they are not small horses with big ears!
The Donkey Sanctuary Chief Veterinary Adviser, Joe Collins explains how donkeys and horses differ.
Indiscriminate breeding and the DWIS castration programme
The Donkey Sanctuary remains at the forefront of donkey welfare issues, promoting responsible ownership, health care and addressing the over production of donkeys in Ireland. We identified a worrying trend from the beginning of 2019 of unwanted donkey foals of which 12 alone this year have been relinquished into our care.
Tootsie, our beloved mule
It is with sadness we inform you that our wonderful 56 year old mule, Tootsie has passed away. Tootsie, who came to our sanctuary in 1992 was always a lively character who was first to the trough and took no nonsense from other donkeys and mules. In the past few years, Tootsie lived in our elderly donkey group at Hannigans Farm.
January and a donkey called Janus
On an ordinary day in January, welfare adviser Ian Colton received an urgent call about a donkey that needed our help. Shortly afterwards, the donkey we called Janus came into our care. This is his story.
Eddie, back on his hooves
Our vet team worked hard to ensure that Eddie, a donkey with a bleak future received all the treatment he needed to turn his life around.
Late last year, a man requested help with his donkey Eddie who had difficulty standing in his field. The donkey’s hooves were extremely long and misshapen and he was suffering from severe laminitis (a cripplingly painful foot disease).
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