THE Donegal Donkey Sanctuary has reported a dramatic increase in the number of donkeys in need of rescue and shelter during Covid-19.
The sanctuary has been forced to launch an appeal for donations to help them overcome major income losses as a result of the current crisis.
Travel restrictions on potential visitors this summer will all but eliminate the sanctuary’s main source of income and place the future of the sanctuary in doubt.
One-year-old Donkey Nuri was relinquished to the sanctuary last week from a loving home that can no longer keep him
Donegal Donkey Sanctuary has been in existence for about 12 years and in that time they have provided safety, security and a future for hundreds of abandoned and abused donkeys.
The sanctuary welcomes large numbers of visitors annually from all over the world in what is normally the busiest time of the year and the revenue generated is a lifeline for the donkeys in their care.
With some levels of restrictions likely to apply post-lockdown, owners Danny and Sandra Curran say they have very little prospect of being able to return to normal income levels for the rest of the year and beyond.
Jennifer, Maisie & Nancy were the last donkeys to come to the sanctuary just before lockdown in March. Any arrivals since have been emergency situations only.
The centre has seen a dramatic increase in the number of donkeys seeking sanctuary over the last number of weeks and this trend is showing no sign of slowing.
Worsening financial circumstances are forcing some people to give up their donkeys or, worse still, abandon them.
The sanctuary collected seven donkeys at different locations across the country last week with more to come.
The Raphoe sanctuary is home to almost 100 donkeys at any given time and the outfall of COVID-19 threatens to push them into a deep financial crisis.
They are calling on their supporters to donate whatever they can in order to give the sanctuary a fighting chance of surviving this unprecedented crisis and securing the future of the current residents and the many donkeys that will need their help in the future.
Donation details and information on ways to help are available on: http://donegaldonkeysanc.com/donation/
