Donkey Sanctuary appeals for help as they reach capacity
Milana and Tweety, who will be two of the last foals born on Donkey Sanctuary Ireland's farms for a while, as they have reached capacity for sanctuary-based care
The Donkey Sanctuary Ireland issued a stark warning as it braces for one of its most challenging winters yet as the sanctuary is at full capacity.
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.
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.
Now The Donkey Sanctuary Ireland is calling on the public for their continued support, as the charity’s work is made possible by the generous donations.
They shared the story of Milana, one of the last foals born at The Donkey Sanctuary Ireland, after they were called in to help with the rescue and rehoming of a group of 20 abandoned donkeys.
The welfare team found four pregnant mares - Starling, Linnet, Dove, and Skylark, who were taken to the sanctuary where they gave birth to healthy foals, but sadly Linnet passed away not long after her foal, Milana, was born.
Fortunately, the farm team was able to provide lifesaving support to Milana bottle-feeding her from just two weeks old and eventually transitioning her to a feeding system which they had to build themselves.
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.
During this time, one of the other mares rescued, Starling, also took Milana under her wing and accepted Milana as one of her own foals, alongside Tweety, who was born not long after the rescue.
Tweety and Milana have become best friends for life, and the three joined some more of the group that had been rescued originally, forming a closely-knit community of donkeys in their new surroundings.
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