OLDER DONKEYS DYING CAN BARELY FIND FOOD DUE TO PUNISHING DROUGHT CONDITIONS, SAYS HUMANE SOCIETY HEAD
The persistent drought conditions have been negatively impacting the Antigua and Barbuda Humane Society’s Donkey Sanctuary, with some of the animals dying due to the lack of food.
Karen Corbin, who heads the Society, says it has been “incredibly difficult” to procure food for the donkeys.
The Sanctuary comprises 45 acres of land in three different sections; and, yet, Corbin says that grazing is now virtually non-existent.
The land is bare, she explains, and there is no grass for the animals to feed on in these drought conditions.
Since they were not able to exist on an irregular food supply, some of the older animals have died, Corbin says. Meanwhile, most of the other donkeys are getting extremely thin because of the lack of food.
According to Corbin, a friend of the Humane Society who resides in the United States has come forward to assist. This person is trying to raise the money to import hay and straw into the country, so that the animals can be fed. To this end, she says, a GoFundMe page will be set up to solicit the public’s help.
To import a 40-foot container of feed and clear it from the Port would cost the Society US$12,000, Corbin notes. However, the container-load would be able to feed the animals for three months.
In the meantime, Corbin says, the Society was able to import a container with hay and straw for the donkeys; but it remains at the Port, since the funds are not available to clear it at this time.
Accordingly, residents are encouraged to make a donation to the organization to help with the Port charges for clearing the feed.
