An animal charity has expressed shock at the "neglect and abandonment" of 20 donkeys in Galway amid what it called the "significant challenges" caused by a deepening animal welfare crisis in Ireland.
The Donkey Sanctuary, a not-for-profit organisation said that one of the donkeys abandoned in Galway had already died and four others had to be euthanised on health and welfare grounds.
Donkey Sanctuary Ireland Director Laura Foster described the Galway case as a "significant" if not "unexpected moment."
Ms Foster said that prevention and legal deterrents are the only sustainable solution for all agencies involved in animal welfare.
She has been giving more details to Midwest News.
