Spiralling costs put pressure on donkey rescue sanctuaries

SCOTLAND's only dedicated sanctuary for unwanted donkeys has warned that it is close to capacity after spiralling feed and bedding costs resulted in an "big increase" in the number of animals it cares for.

Staff at the Scottish Borders Donkey Sanctuary said they will soon be forced to lend animals to other responsible landowners in the Lothian and Borders area, such is the demand on their resources.

The sanctuary, based near Melrose, has been inundated with requests to take in animals owners can no longer afford to care for due to the economic downturn.

Only last week, the charity received two donkeys from a newly bankrupt farmer, bringing the total number at the sanctuary to 80. Since the turn of the year, 30 have been admitted.

Rosemary Dale, founder of the St Boswells sanctuary, said: "I'm afraid the effects of the recession are really hitting people with donkeys, they just can't afford to look after them any more. They are expensive animals to keep, and everything costs more compared to a few years ago.

"So many people are wanting their animals to come here the situation is now getting serious, and we've almost reached capacity. We've taken in 25 to 30 this year.

"In the future, we will probably have to lend the animals out two at a time to sensible people in the local area with the right conditions."

Ms Dale, an 81-year-old enthusiast and breeder of donkeys, said the sanctuary deals with a "very big feed bill and a big vet's bill," but praised the work of its fundraisers. Nevertheless, she said the demands on the charity, founded in 2003, are constant.

She said: "We got two donkeys last week from a farmer who had gone bankrupt in Ayrshire, which hadn't been looked after very well and will cost us a lot of money to get in good health."

Along with failing farms, the sanctuary also receives many donkeys which have been rescued from meat businesses in parts of Europe. Quite a lot of the donkeys we have were rescued from the salami trade," Ms Dale added. "Part of the reason we're crowded is we take up to ten of those animals at a time. It's a terrible trade."

The problem is not confined to the Borders sanctuary. Willows Animal Sanctuary in Fraserburgh, which looks after more than 300 animals, including around 60 horses, ponies and donkeys, said the number of animals requiring its help had "risen dramatically" while the number and size of donations it receives had dropped off.

Mike Flynn, chief superintendent with the Scottish SPCA, said:v "We are aware that the number of owners no longer able to look after their donkeys is a particular cause for concern for sanctuaries. Donkeys can make wonderful companion animals, particularly for horses and ponies, but do have particular needs and are not necessarily easy to care for."

Fin Robertson, a spokesman for animal protection charity, OneKind, added: "Donkeys are much, much harder to rehome than other animals because they need space, specialist food, and their hooves have to be cleaned."