Animal Welfare Awareness Day 2023

Charlie McConalogue, The Minister of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, has awarded us €300,000 to assist with our work in 2024.

How this funding will benefit us

Here at The Donkey Sanctuary Ireland, we have been working with other organisations to tackle a deepening, national donkey welfare crisis. 

Cathy Griffin Head of Donkey Welfare says: “Across Ireland, the number of donkeys requiring rescue, rehoming, and sanctuary care has reached unsustainable and unmanageable levels.”

“The funding will make a significant contribution to our work in 2024 and we are so pleased to be working more closely with the Department on the issues that trigger poor donkey welfare.”

The crisis has been “driven by a perfect storm” of irresponsible breeding, lack of education and awareness, and human hardships triggered by the cost of living crisis.

Cathy Griffin continues: “As well as the support we provide donkeys and their owners through welfare services and education, we are also calling for a national clamp-down on breeding, and more enforcement of the Animal Welfare Act in cases of abuse and neglect.”

Chairman of Trustees, Michael Cronin, commented: “This critical funding will help our excellent team at The Donkey Sanctuary Ireland to continue tackling poor welfare through donkey-focused care and an increased focus on owner education. We are happy with the response from the Department and look forward to a constructive, ongoing collaboration.”

Working with the Department of Agriculture

The Fianna Fail Minister visited three of The Donkey Sanctuary Ireland’s guardian donkeys at Farmleigh Estate in the Phoenix Park in 2021, as well as DSPCA headquarters in Rathfarnham, Dublin. 

Charlie McConalogue says: “These organisations play such a crucial role in ensuring all our animals are cared for and protected. This is frontline work that we can all be proud of.”