Providing critical care across Ireland

Between January and May of this year they responded to 123 donkey welfare concerns from the public, one of which involved 15-year-old mare Sally and her one-month-old foal Sophie.

We first learned of their plight when Donkey Welfare Adviser Joe Prendergast responded to a welfare concern in the east of Ireland.

Recalling when he first saw Sally, Joe says: “Sally’s hooves were horrendous and showed signs of laminitis, a painful hoof condition. 

“Sally’s hooves had been seriously neglected for over a year, leading to severe overgrowth. This had worsened to the point where her hooves had curled upwards, making every step painful.

“She was clearly suffering and needed to be examined by a vet right away. X-rays confirmed our concerns and showed extreme pedal bone damage.”

In cases as severe as this when there is such extreme hoof deformity, the pedal bone can actually rotate or move downwards within the hoof, causing pain and sometimes irreversible damage.

Sally’s newly born foal, Sophie, was also in concerning state. Born during the peak of winter, Sophie had been suffering from the harsh wet and cold weather due to lack of shelter.

Joe says: “Although both Sally and Sophie received urgent farrier and veterinary treatment, it was evident they would require ongoing care.”

The owner agreed to relinquish Sally and Sophie to the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ISPCA), and we helped to transport them to its National Animal Centre at Longford, where they were continuously monitored by a vet and farrier.

After spending several happy months in safety and comfort with her foal, Sally’s health sadly took a turn for the worse. Her internal hoof structure had deteriorated to such an extent that the kindest course of action was to put her to sleep. But thankfully, Sophie continues to enjoy a happy and enriched life with her donkey friends at the Longford centre.

On the importance of hoof care, Joe says: “Regular and high-quality hoof care from a qualified farrier is so important to the welfare of any equine.

“Once hooves become overgrown, it can lead to internal changes that cannot be reversed. This could cause the donkey pain, which requires ongoing management and impacts their quality of life. Prevention is always better than cure.”

A new friend for Mouse

Meanwhile, 300 kilometres away in the west, Donkey Welfare Adviser Ciara O’Kelly responded to a welfare concern involving an eight-year-old gelding named Mouse.

Ciara says: “Mouse was living in a challenging environment that was impacting his wellbeing. Although there were horses on the site, he was lacking a donkey companion which was causing him further distress.

“While it might be common to see horses and donkeys living together, it’s recommended to not keep them together due to their different needs and management requirements.

Ciara was also concerned by his condition and immediately contacted an external vet to the site, who then carried out a full examination of Mouse.

A local farrier was also contacted to trim his overgrown hooves and a suitable treatment was provided for his lice-infested coat.

The owner agreed the best thing for Mouse would be to find a new, experienced home.

During her search, Ciara received a request from a donkey owner residing in North Kerry. The owner was seeking help to find a suitable new home for John, their eight-year-old gelding.

The owners admitted to Ciara that they didn’t fully understand the responsibility of having a donkey and realised that his wellbeing was suffering.

Ciara says: “When I first met John he was extremely nervous and providing immediate hoof and dental care would be challenging. Gaining his trust required a lot of patience and it took multiple visits before he was comfortable enough to receive the care he needed.”;

Ciara, after working closely with Mouse and John, was confident they’d thrive in a new home together. Thankfully, it wasn’t long before she found an experienced home eager to shower a pair of donkeys with love and care.

Ciara says: “Mouse and John became the best of friends right away. It’s incredible to see them adapting so fast and clearly enjoying each other’s company.

“We will continue to support their new owner, but we are confident that Mouse and John have found their forever home.”