The original Donkey Sanctuary was founded by Dr. Elisabeth Svensden in the United Kingdon in 1969. Her aim was to provide neglected donkeys with all the loving care and attention they may need for the rest of their lives.
The Donkey Sanctuary was set up in Ireland in 1987. It is based just outside the village of Liscarrol, near Mallow in County Cork.
Liscarroll
Since the sanctuary opened in 1987, they have looked after more than 2,400 donkeys from all parts of the country.
Lots of these donkeys had been abandoned and ignored by their owners once they became too old for hauling peat or pulling a cart. The sanctuary tries to make sure that each and every donkey is guaranteed a life of loving care.
They are all given personal attention but they will also group donkeys together if they have formed a strong friendship with each other. This can often happen with donkeys of the same age.
How to look after a donkey
It's not just donkeys that arrive in Liscarroll which are looked after by the sanctuary. There are welfare officers for all parts of the country who can check on any donkey they hear may be neglected.
As well as that, they have their own book called 'The Professional Handbook of the Donkey', which tells you all you need to know about donkey care.
If that doesn't help, they have a telephone advice line where owners can discuss difficulties with trained and experienced members of the Donkey Sanctuary staff.
Bessy Bray's story
Bessy Bray is one of the many donkeys that have been helped by the sanctuary. She arrived a few years ago from County Waterford after her elderly neighbour could no longer look after her.
Once the welfare officer had a look at her, he arranged for her to be brought to Liscarroll. Bessy was a lovely grey mare and although not in bad condition as such, her feet were in a very bad way.
After spending six weeks settling in, she made friends with another new intake, Jack Quirke. The vet and the farrier (horseshoe maker) worked so hard to fix her feet and after a while, she was no longer in as much pain from walking.
Sadly, in the summer of 2007, Bessy suffered kidney failure and she could not be saved. However, it is heartwarming to remember how happy and how much she was loved at the sanctuary.