Copper

Copper was a 17hh, TB mare brought in by the SSPCA in 2000 from a Castlebaldwin owner. She was found on waste land next to Molly Fulton’s cafe at Ballisodare, Co. Sligo. She was emaciated, her legs were badly cut and she had a lice infestation and a worm belly. The Gardai intervened, confiscated her, and she came to Sai Sanctuary in January 2004 when the SSPCA were unable to keep her. She recovered and for the rest of her time at the Sanctuary she was in excellent condition.

In April 2012 Copper fell in the yard and the vet confirmed a possible heart attack. She was very weak with laboured breathing, an irregular heartbeat, and unable to get up on her own. Amidst hail, snow and torrential rain we made the difficult decision to let her go. She was much loved and was missed by everyone; including Taus and Johnny Rainbow.

Daisy

Daisy was an aged smokey dark brown ex-working donkey mare relinquished by her elderly owner in November 2007 because he was no longer able to look after her. She was reputed to be 41 years old but was very sprightly and her teeth suggested she may be younger.

Her hooves were in very poor condition and she had a hint of a laminitic crest but she was not overweight and was otherwise in good health. She had never been kept with other donkeys during the previous 23 years but adapted extremely well to being with them and some of the smaller ponies. She was kept previously with goats.

Daisy died very unexpectedly on Saturday 15th March, 2008. A very affectionate, cuddly girl who is deeply missed.

D'Artagnan

D'Artagnan was one of the three donkey stallions found abandoned in a forest near Coolaney, Co. Sligo in 2011 (along with Aramis and Athos, the Three Musketeers). They were well out of sight behind a second set of gates and a notice stating that any animal found grazing on forestry lands would be confiscated.

They were brought in with the help of the Gardai. (How we wish more owners of forestry and private lands would display such notices!).

The donkeys were a little undernourished, full of lice and had extremely overgrown hooves, the like of which we hadn’t seen for 15 years.

Derry

Derry was a very aged and sick 14.3hh dark bay gelding brought in from a dealer at Drumshanbo Mart on 27th October 2007. He was placed with a Sai Sanctuary member who gave him a permanent foster home.

He almost certainly had advanced Cushing disease and Influenza. His teeth were painful, so he had difficuty eating, and his hooves were in poor condition. There was also a possible tumour on his off side.

Euthanasia was recommended but we decided to check out his teeth first which proved to be a disastrous mess. Once treated, Derry lost his heavy, curly coat, started eating well and made a miraculous recovery.

Dumphy

Full name Ezra Dumphy, he arrived on 28th February 2003. He was a shaggy black donkey foal of around 7 months, brought in to help out his owner in Ballinafad.

The foal had been tethered out on rough ground beside the lake without water. This was reported, and on investigation, several neighbours came forward and asked for the foal to be taken away and looked after. The owner was in agreement, and Boyle Gardai were aware, but the owner wanted to sell him for 130 euros.

Dumphy was in good body condition as he had only been bought two weeks previously from Drumshambo sales. He was wormed on arrival and was very quiet but, subsequently, he was found to be a stallion and he was operated on at UCD Vet Hospital in October 2004. Dumphy grew into a large, strong, donkey.

Dustin

Dustin was a steel grey pony mule gelding of about 5 years old on arrival with Hoffman, a dark bay pony mule yearling stallion. They had been wandering the roads for maybe up to six weeks and we had received many callouts from all different areas but no-one had managed to catch them. Then, by chance, they turned up in a neighbour’s yard; where they were cornered, eventually caught, and led by foot up to the Sanctuary.

Ballymote Gardai were informed and an advertisement was placed on North West Radio but no owner came forward. Both animals were very afraid and defensive and it took a couple of years to fully gain their trust.

Ermintrude

Ermintrude was a very undernourished donkey mare, named by us, who came in in 2011 from the same area as The Duchess, a potentially glorious liver chestnut cob.

Both had been badly neglected throughout a tough winter though The Duchess soon showed signs of improvement after a worm dose and good grass.

Ermintrude took a lot longer to regain her weight but that might have been partly down to her having great “attitude” - always off with the herd, playing chase with the lads and teasing someone into a play fight.

She was a real little character who has perfected the “who me?” look whilst committing amazing mischief. Her hooves were grossly overgrown on arrival but hardly slowed her down - or so we thought. After trimming we realised we should have called her Arkle or Red Rum.

Esmeralda

A 26 year old donkey mare relinquished by her 91 year old owner who was no longer able to look after her. She was a quiet, sweet natured, little girl but with grossly over shortened front hooves so she walked on ballet points. Her heels were dropped by the farrier but we could only hope no damage had been done and her hooves would grow out to proper proportions over time.

She had never been kept with other donkeys but was devoted to her collie bitch friend, Beauty, who was also rehomed. She made friends with Penny Biscuit, as they both needed to be on deep straw, and became a gregarious little soul, always in the heart of whatever was happening.

Fairy Snow

Fairy was a pure white albino, 3 year old filly, relinquished on 23rd August 2005 as she suffered severe sweetitch and her owner could not manage her problem. About 13 hh, (expected to make 14.2 - 15hh).

A very sweet natured and quiet pony but her eyesight wasn't good in bright light or sunshine. She was subsequently treated for sweetitch with a good success rate using Freedom 45 SpotOn.

Francis

Francis belonged to Barbara Herbert, Bornacoola and was a big, overweight, Spanish type black donkey gelding who came to the Sanctuary with his Sanctuary companion Noah to allow their owner to take holidays throughout the winter of 2000/2001.

Both, subsequently, became permanent residents and Francis went from being difficult to handle to a gentle giant; shy but friendly and he loved cuddles, being groomed, and small people.

Gwillan

GWILLAN was relinquished on 10th May, 2004 from Dysart Village, Co. Galway because he was biting and kicking and the family's 14 year old daughter was now too afraid to go into the field with him. He was a runty 4 year old pony rig about 11hh.

He was taken to Dublin Veterinary Hospital (UCD) on June 2nd 2004 for a rig castration operation, which was totally successful. He made friends with 17hh Copper and grazed with her and/or the two mules, Dustin and Hoffman. He was very dark brown in colour, almost black in his summer coat, with a sticky-up mane that had probably been hogged.

(A rig is a male equine that has one, or both, testicles retained in the abdomen. They can appear to be a gelding.) (A hogged, or roached, mane is cut or shaved very short)

Hezekiah

Brought in from a bog in Roscommon on 16th FEBRUARY 2000. Hezekiah was a handsome, tall black gelding of 30-35 years. He'd been found tethered and apparently abandoned.

He was very thin, with rain scald and ringworm, and his hooves had been extremely long but had been mutilated by a Roscommon 'vet' prior to being brought to the sanctuary. He arrived in great pain as his hooves were sore, with a tendency to bleed, and it took many weeks to improve enough for him to walk comfortably.

He had a kind, affectionate, nature in spite of it all. It was difficult to keep weight on him, especially in winter.

On 5th October 2011, Hezzy chose his own time to leave us. He passed away during the night in the haybarn where he had spent his last few days. He had been a constant companion to several other elderly donkeys, especially Aggie who was almost blind. Hezzy acted as her 'eyes' and shepherded her around the fields. Lately, his own eyesight had become poor and he had heart problems. He was a lovely old donkey who will always be much missed.

High Jinks

High Jinks arrived on the 22nd February 2003. A chestnut 11.2hh, 6/7 year old Welsh pony cob gelding with a white face and blonde mane and tail.

He was relinquished from Ballahadereen. His owner had died 3 years previously and the family had tried to keep him but could not handle him, so he became bossy, domineering and independent.

He was fiesty by nature, but there was no real badness, and he would make a good gymkhana pony if handled correctly. He was turned out with Nancy and Taus and quietened considerably in the first two weeks.

He was fostered for schooling and later, permanently fostered to Ballinafad, Co. Sligo 2004, to an experienced younger horsewoman.

Horatio

Horatio was a very elderly white pony around 12.2hh. He was relinquished through Leitrim County Vet having been found, apparently abandoned, in Drumshambo, and no owner come forward.

He was in good health except for having only 2 teeth, plus one tusk and some back molars. His thin hooves needed trimming but he had obviously been looked after throughout his lifetime.

He had problems eating and consequently it was difficult to keep his weight up. He passed away suddenly, after a stroke, in August 2010. A much missed character; the yard was very quiet without him stood there asking for attention by banging his hooves on the gate.

Jeremiah

Jeremiah was about 6 years old. A very bold, mouse coloured gelding (possibly a rig though not confirmed). He came from Boyle Horse Fair in November 1993 and was delivered with Solomon after Boyle Horse Fair, despite protestations that he was healthy and did not need to come into the Sanctuary. He was obviously not wanted by his owners!

He had good feet and a 'Me first' sort of character; being very independent and bossy with other donkeys. He liked being with horses (thought he WAS a horse!) so was used for weaning horse foals before being permanently fostered near Kesh Carrigan in Co. Letrim as a companion to Kerry, a 14hh pony cob. They were inseparable to the point that when Kerry was driven out, Jerry came too!

(A rig is a male equine that has one, or both, testicles retained in the abdomen. They can appear to be a gelding.)

Jessica

Jessica was found in March 2007 by a couple who had recently moved to Ireland from the UK. She was standing near to the carcass of her dead donkey friend who had apparently died at least a week earlier and it was only her brays of distress that made her presence known.

Her grossly overlong hooves, which measured 16 inches (40.5 cms), made it extremely difficult for her to walk.,/p>

On behalf of her elderly owner, the couple took on the responsibility of looking after Jessica. Then, when he died, early in 2008, the couple were asked by the family to assume ownership but remove Jessica from their land. As they had no facilities themselves they asked if Jessica could join us at the Sai Sanctuary, where they visit her regularly and contribute towards her upkeep.

Jessica was classed as a Grade 5 laminitic, which means the bones in her front feet are fully rotated and sinking due to long term neglect and incorrect (or lack of) trimming. At nearly 30 years old we all understood that she was on borrowed time and would all pull together to ensure her last years were as happy and comfortable as possible.

Josh

In August 1998 Josh and Tommi were relinquished by a German couple when they returned to live in the UK and then, later, back to the Continent. Josh (the Bosh) was around four years old on arrival, with chestnut colouring and a white face. He was a great character; affectionate but a real boy. TOMMI was a bit bullied by Josh but soon learned to hold his own.

Both donkeys were devoted to each other; always together, looking adorable. They were very friendly and loved attention of any kind; especially treats or being groomed. They were happy to greet visitors but warnings had to be given as their party trick was getting someone inbetween them and then squeezing. Josh was also known for grabbing zips on jackets and not letting go.

Josiah

At 3 years old, Josiah was relinquished to us by the family when his elderly owner died. He had several, prominent and bleeding sarcoids (angleberries) hanging off his sheath and around that area. These are usually pre-cancerous growths which, in some cases can be removed, though they have a profilic tendency to recur.

Our own vet advised sending Josiah to The Donkey Sanctuary in Liscarroll, Co. Cork, where they have hospital facilities and specialise in donkey surgery. We sent Josiah with a donation of €750 and a promise to fundraise further if he could be helped. Unfortunately during the operation the vet found Josiah had 14 other internal sarcoids and had no option but to put him to sleep.

Would it have been a happier story had someone acted sooner? We can’t be sure but it is probable. Had the first small sarcoid been removed early there was certainly a better chance that others would not have seeded into the area. A very sad ending for such a young animal.

Legend

Legend came in with Cherokee and Lyric, in 2011, to free up valuable space at the ISPCA in order that more immediately rehomable ponies could be handled and fostered out.

Legend was the archetypal fun children’s pony, always playing the fool and getting up to mischief but essentially a trustworthy and loving nature.