Source:  News Release/Emma Gill

Rafferty and Carrick rescued from towpath abandonment

Two donkeys with long, twisted and overgrown hooves who were found abandoned along a towpath near a main road in Moy, Northern Ireland, were rescued last week by The Donkey Sanctuary.

The two stallions, both estimated to be around five years old, are reported to have been abandoned as long ago as March 2012, and have since been fending for themselves out in the open with just hedges and trees for shelter.  Whilst they appear largely healthy in terms of body condition, their hooves are so overgrown that they resemble Turkish slippers – a classic sign of neglect.

Staff at The Donkey Sanctuary were alerted to the plight of the two donkeys, who have since been named Rafferty and Carrick, last week, and immediately set about making arrangements to rescue them.

Marie McCormack, welfare officer for The Donkey Sanctuary, collected the two donkeys last Wednesday and took them to a nearby holding base:

“Given the amount of time these donkeys were neglected, we made it our priority to give them shelter from the elements and arrange for them to be checked over by a vet and a farrier as soon as possible.  We suspect that they were abandoned for even longer than seven months, as their hooves are showing a good year’s growth and are so twisted that it must be very painful for them to walk around.  It will take a prolonged programme of farriery to return their neglected hooves to normal, but they will be more comfortable after the farrier’s first visit this week.

“Thankfully the donkeys are both in reasonable body condition and we understand that the owner of the land on which they were abandoned kindly made sure that they did not go hungry. However their long period of neglect has left them very nervous and wary of people and we will be gently working with them to steadily increase their confidence and trust in humans over time.Both donkeys are now guaranteed warmth, shelter and a secure future with the charity, and we will do all we can to give them the best chance possible of returning to full health.”

To report neglect or mistreatment of donkeys, or for free, expert advice for anyone experiencing difficulties in caring for their donkeys, please visit www.thedonkeysanctuary.org.uk.

All of the donkeys taken in, including Rafferty and Carrick, now have a sanctuary for life with The Donkey Sanctuary. The charity is funded entirely by donations and takes in an average of eight donkeys each week throughout the UK and Ireland. Call 01392 578222 or visit www.thedonkeysanctuary.org.uk for more information.

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