Donegal Donkey Sanctuary

Husband and wife team Sandra & Danny Curran took in their first donkey as a result of a phone call from a family friend who found a starving & dehydrated donkey tied to a scrapped car in a bog. As time went by several more donkeys found their way into their care and the couple became known for their empathy and kindness towards these gentle beasts. By the time numbers had risen into the low twenties a decision was reached to become a more formal and organised entity so Donegal Donkey Sanctuary was born!

Public support has been tremendous and many wonderful people have volunteered their help in many ways. The sanctuary has gone from strength to strength over the last few years with the addition of a new stable block, large barn, tea room and gift shop funded by the Leader Programme/Donegal Local Development Company.

Animals come to the sanctuary in a variety of ways. Some are cruelty cases who have never known a kind word and have endured years of abuse and neglect. Others come from loving homes that can no longer care for them for a variety of reasons. Sometimes advancing age makes it impossible for an owner to manage the donkeys or maybe a family has seen a marked change in financial circumstances and can no longer afford to keep their old friend. Every case is individual and every donkey is given a name or retains it’s given name if known.