Years ago, a donkey living in Killorglin, Ireland was rescued from a flood and his grateful response captured hearts everywhere. The story comes up again during a trying time for the U.S. who’s seen its worst storms in years. As such, several hundred people and animals have been missing for days or weeks. Fortunately, many have been rescued.
A Grateful Donkey is Rescued
The donkey almost drowned when a river next to his field broke its banks and flooded stranding him in a ditch. He was rescued by Suzanne Gibbons of Animal Heaven Animal Rescue, with an orange lifebuoy and a small dingy. Suzanne explained at the time, she only had one chance because the flood waters were rapidly rising. Fortunately, a good samaritan stepped in to help.
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His Rescuer Shares the Events
“At first, I couldn’t find anybody willing to help me go in because the river was flooding really badly,” Suzanne said. “But finally Mike Fleming of the Killorglin Rowing Club took me out and we managed to get a life ring around the donkey’s neck and drag him to safety.”
The Donkey is Taken in for Treatment
After he was rescued the sweet donkey, also named Mike was taken to the rescue, where Suzanne could keep a watchful eye on his recovery. “We had a vet check him over because we were worried about him getting pneumonia and he slept under a heat lamp but he seems fine this morning,” Suzanne said in an interview. Fortunately, the donkey was rescued and managed to recover. However, today animals in the U.S. are facing a major crisis, in part due to flooding. Like Mike the Donkey, they must be rescued. Luckily, many have been!
Current Struggles for U.S. Animals
According to reports over 100 animals have been rescued following the recent hurricanes. Rescue crews in Hillsborough County, Florida have been working tirelessly since the area was deemed safe enough to start sorting through the damage. “We’re incredibly grateful for the opportunity to serve and protect all members of our community, big and small,” the Hillsborough County Fire Rescue wrote in a Facebook post.
Rescue Options
Moreover, the Fire Rescue Department has been housing displaced animals in an old vehicle that resembles a school bus and has been converted into a “makeshift kennel.” Hillsborough County and the surrounding areas are still seeing potential flooding advisories. While many shelters are pet friendly, many are at capacity and unable to house every family and pet in need. Animal rescues are all across the U.S. and are typically donations of grant funding. As such, they’re always in need of donations and resources so they can continue to support their local communities. Interestingly, several animal rescues are geared toward caring for donkeys like Mike and other farm animals.
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