HFF! These beautiful donkeys are being strip grazed as too much grass isn’t good for them. They were originally desert animals & need some rocky terrain to keep their hooves down. Their coats aren’t waterproof like horses & they need shelter so they really aren’t suited to the Irish climate but they were cheap to keep & would carry heavy loads so many families in the old days kept donkeys.
These lucky ones will live out their days at the Donkey Sanctuary in Liscarroll, Co. Cork, not far from where I live. They have different coloured collars on their necks, one bears their name & the colour depends on their gender. Another indicates if they need extra rations (many mares come in pregnant) or special medication.
The sanctuary is a charity & the only one in Ireland dedicated to rescuing donkeys & mules. Sadly it’s inundated with calls to rescue hundreds of abused & abandoned donkeys each year. The sanctuary is open to the public every day (except Christmas Day) no entry fee but donations are welcome. Dogs allowed on leads. You can read more about the wonderful work this charity does here www.thedonkeysanctuary.ie/
Posted by Julie from Wexford on 2016-05-27 17:22:31
Tagged: , Donkey Sanctuary , Liscarroll , fence , HFF , grass , meadow , tree , animal , clouds , sky
