2011 was an incredibly busy year for The Donkey Sanctuary, with record numbers of animals coming into our care. This was particularly noticeable in Northern Ireland, with our team of welfare officers being asked to take in more and more donkeys as their value at market dropped and owners were unable to afford to pay for their care.

With this trend expected to continue into 2012, The Donkey Sanctuary's Director of Care and Welfare, Paul Svendsen, travelled out to Northern Ireland to see the situation for himself. On his short visit he was involved in the rescue of an abandoned donkey and pony and found out how things are 'on the ground' for our team of welfare officers in Northern Ireland.