The Donkey Sanctuary Ireland issues warning ahead of difficult winter
Co. Cork, Ireland – The Donkey Sanctuary Ireland issued a stark warning this week as it braces for one of its most challenging winters yet.
With the sanctuary operating at full capacity, the charity can only offer sanctuary care in very exceptional circumstances.
Head of Donkey Welfare, Cathy Griffin, explained the gravity of the situation: "As the cold and wet weather sets in, we find ourselves in the unprecedented position of being unable to accommodate new rescues. Our farms are at capacity, and we must now shift our focus to prevention and community-based solutions."
Amidst the capacity crisis, The Donkey Sanctuary Ireland's commitment to donkey welfare remains of paramount importance. The team has ramped up efforts in community support, seeing a 13.3 per cent increase in welfare calls undertaken compared to the previous year. It has also seen a significant increase of 30.4 per cent in donkey castrations, indicating successful intervention to prevent unplanned breeding. This proactive approach in the community aims to reduce the number of donkeys needing sanctuary and manage the welfare crisis more sustainably.
"The rise in castrations is a clear indication that our community outreach programmes are having a positive impact. It's a vital part of our strategy to reduce the number of donkeys needing sanctuary care.
"Although we are currently unable to welcome any more donkeys into our sanctuaries, we remain dedicated to our mission and are actively assisting in private rehomings and supporting donkey owners through advice and collaboration" added Cathy.
Following a cold and wet year that led to an increase in welfare calls, The Donkey Sanctuary Ireland is calling on the public for their continued support. The charity's work, vital in these trying times, is made possible by the generous donations from the community. Public backing is more crucial than ever to ensure The Donkey Sanctuary can reach those donkeys in need of support.
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Case study
Meet Milana, one of the last foals born at The Donkey Sanctuary Ireland.
Earlier this year, The Donkey Sanctuary Ireland was called in to help with one of our most complex welfare cases: the rescue and rehoming of a group of 20 abandoned donkeys in Galway.
Our welfare team found four pregnant mares and three foals in the group, who were taken to our sanctuary facilities. These will be the last mares and foals to be relinquished to the sanctuary for the foreseeable future.
Despite a difficult start, all four mares - Starling, Linnet, Dove, and Skylark - gave birth to healthy foals. While most of the new arrivals are now doing well, sadly, Linnet passed away not long after her foal, Milana, was born. Despite receiving veterinary treatment, Linnet was unable to recover after suffering from years of neglect.
A specialised feeding regime
Fortunately, our farm team was able to provide lifesaving support to Milana. When she was just 2 weeks old, they began bottle-feeding her, as her mother was producing little to no milk even before her passing. The bottle feeds were administered every 3 hours, and as Milana grew older and started eating solids like milk pellets, grass, and haylage, the farm team gradually extended the intervals between bottle feeds. It only took Milana a few feeds to become accustomed to the bottle.
Bottle feeds continued for approximately 6-8 weeks, increasing in volume as Milana gained weight to ensure her proper growth and development. As she became stronger, the team transitioned her to a different feeding system, which they had to build themselves. The new system helped Milana to learn to drink milk on her own. This process took her a few more weeks to master, as the team needed to ensure she wouldn't overindulge and risk making herself sick or developing scour.
Finally, after more than three months of careful monitoring of her intake and being satisfied that she would not overindulge, the team moved Milana to a feeding system where they put milk in the feeder twice a day, and Milana can come and go as she pleases. They still record her intake to ensure she receives enough milk. Over the next 6-8 weeks, the farm team will gradually wean her off the milk as she approaches 6-7 months of age.
New companions
During this time, one of the other mares rescued in the Galway case, Starling, also took Milana under her wing. She accepted Milana as one of her own foals, alongside Tweety, who was born not long after the rescue.
In July, Milana, Starling, and Tweety moved to the Garden Barn. Although they had never been housed together before, they shared a shed and yard while in the new arrivals unit, divided by gates. This allowed the three to touch noses and become familiar with each other, while making sure that Starling would be receptive to Milana.
When they moved to the Garden Barn, this separation by the gates was maintained for a couple of weeks. Gradually, we started leaving Milana with Tweety and Starling but supervised by staff and for short periods. Over the course of a few weeks, we increased the time they spent together, and eventually, we reached a point where they could be left together 24 hours a day.
Now, when Milana is feeding from the milk feeder, both Tweety and Starling accompany her. The three donkeys spend all their time together, and Tweety and Milana have become best friends for life. Last month, the three were joined by some more of the group that had been rescued originally, forming a closely-knit community of donkeys in their new surroundings.
While the new foals bring smiles to everyone on our farms, they also highlight the ongoing challenges The Donkey Sanctuary faces with four more mouths to feed. Head of Donkey Welfare, Cathy Griffin, explains: “In the past, we've tried to accommodate pregnant mares and foals on our farms, all while relentlessly aiding community-based donkeys and their keepers. However, we expect that these four foals will be the last born on our farms for a while, as we have reached our capacity for sanctuary-based care.”