Crisis at our don key sanctuaries
Funds drying up, animals abandoned and visits cancelled, Covid casts a long shadow
TWO of the largest donkey sanctuaries in Ireland have been hit by funding problems caused by Covid-19 even as the number of donkeys in need continues to rise.
The Donkey Sanctuary Ireland in Mallow, Co. Cork, has 1,800 animals in its care, including more than 670 rehomed outside the farm.
‘Our sanctuary is full,’ said public relations officer Ashling O’Sullivan. ‘In terms of fundraising, Covid-19 has hit us hard. Lockdown came about just as we were finishing our spring newsletter and we were unable to send that out to our supporters so we are at a loss for the financial support that would bring.’
All the sanctuary’s funding comes from donations. Ms O’Sullivan said people can adopt a donkey virtually by sending financial support, or they can rehome donkeys on their own land.
‘Our donkey guardians, like our supporters, mean the world to us,’ she said. ‘It is the best way you can support us if you are in a position to rehome two of our donkeys.’
One donkey was pregnant when she was rescued in April, and her beautiful foal was christened Lockie when he was born. They could be rehomed when he is older.
The farm has been closed to visitors since March. Fundraising events such as the popular Teddy Bear Picnic were either cancelled or held online. Even wedding cancellations affected the sanctuary as brides often donated the cost of wedding favours, receiving photographs of donkeys to display instead on the wedding party tables.
Ms O’Sullivan said: ‘There have been donkey abandonments as well, we will have to see what happens down the line. Are circumstances going to change for people economically down the line? Will there be more donkeys abandoned as a result of changing circumstances?’
The sanctuary welfare team visits owners struggling to care for donkeys and supports them in keeping the animals if possible, rather than abandoning them. Ms O’Sullivan said Irish people love donkeys but do not always realise how complicated caring for a large animal can be. The team offers training and education.
‘We would never turn away a donkey, we have access to emergency holding places. Our team are doing fantastic work, this is all so challenging.’
Ashling is hopeful they can reopen for visitors later this year.
At the other end of the country, Danny and Sandra Curran run the Donegal Donkey Sanctuary. They had to set up a GoFundMe in May as donations dried up when they also closed their doors. This week, they have 97 donkeys on the farm and over 700 fostered out.
Mr Curran said: ‘It is the ripple effect of Covid. We have been closed to the public since March, some of our volunteers are in the vulnerable category so if anyone gets sick, we have no one to look after the donkeys. At the same time, without being open we don’t get the donations we need to survive.’
In July, eight donkeys came into their care, one with puncture wounds visible on his body and so traumatised he is still afraid of humans. The specialised care they need has placed an extra financial burden on the sanctuary. Mr Curran said support from local people doing head shaves and raffles have kept them going: ‘If people want to help, we need donations. Monthly direct debits are the best, €5 or €10 a month, we can budget with that. We get a lot of people contacting us who like donkeys but looking after them is tough.’
Donkeys are sometimes abandoned for economic reasons, others taken away from owners because of neglect or cruelty. Mr Curran said that in his experience the justice system is not able to cope with chasing the second category of owner.
People who foster donkeys from
‘We would never turn away a donkey’
‘Donkeys are sociable and can’t be rehomed alone’
either sanctuary need to provide a stable and the land should be dry. Donkeys are sociable animals and cannot be re-homed alone.
Ms O’Sullivan said: ‘Donkeys are part of Irish heritage, but they originated in the Middle East and are suited to arid, dry ground so their hooves are not suited to the Irish climate. Donkeys’ hooves retain more water than horses’. They need an area of hard standing as well as the grass.’