‘Unprecedented situation:’ Donkey sanctuary inundated with abandoned animals during lockdown

A donkey sanctuary says it has been inundated with abandoned animals during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Donegal Donkey Sanctuary, near Letterkenny, said it has taken in 22 donkeys since March – some of which have been handed over by owners no longer able to keep them.

Others donkeys were found abandoned in various locations across Ireland, the sanctuary said.

Sandra Curran, who runs the shelter with husband, said she is struggling to raise funds due to an absence of visitors during the coronavirus crisis.

The sanctuary usually sees thousands of members of the public visit every year, generating revenue to help look after the donkeys.

“It’s an unprecedented situation where normally we would have our doors open and we’d have lots of visitors coming in every day and that’s not going to happen,” she said.

“But then the flip side of the coin is, unfortunately, relating to Covid we are taking in way more donkeys than we normally would and an unprecedented amount over the last month.

“A lot of people are giving up their donkeys or worse than that abandoning them because of job losses and economic circumstances.”

The sanctuary now has more than 100 donkeys on the property but Ms Curran said there was a list of other unwanted animals they still had to go and out and collect.

The sanctuary runs a fostering scheme, so several animals will ultimately end up going to new homes.

Ms Curran said the family’s main worry was the upcoming winter.

“In the summer yes there are costs and there are always running costs, but the animals are grazing,” she said.

“The money that we normally raise during the summer, particularly from the gift shop and the tea room, is what helps feed the population over the winter.

“And you know now we don’t have that and we also have an increased population.”

Additional reporting by Press Association