Twenty rescued dogs currently under the care of Donegal Animals in Need

Animals In Need (AIN) currently has twenty rescued dogs in their care. All the dogs are collies or collie-crosses. Bailey, a German Shepherd/collie cross, is the latest arrival.

He is a large, strong dog with a good temperament, and is seeking a new home due to a change in his owner’s circumstances. At two and a half years old, Bailey is a handsome fellow with a thick, brown coat and he is good with other dogs.

Bailey is now looking for a new home with a secure garden and where he will have plenty of exercise. He needs a home without children, due to his size.

Bailey will be neutered before he is rehomed, as are all AIN’s rescued dogs. If you are interested in offering a home to any of AIN’s dogs, please contact the charity for further information.

ABOVE: Bailey is looking for a new home

Please note that home checks are carried out prior to rehoming. Meanwhile, the cat rescuers have been busy rescuing injured cats, plus ‘Kitten Season’ is now underway.

There was great sadness when a lovely cat called Kai was rescued too late to be saved. Kai was first spotted injured and in a bad condition in Ballintra five weeks ago and numerous appeals had been launched to try to catch him so that he could receive urgent veterinary treatment.

Kai was finally brought to AIN last week, but by then he was beyond help.

He was a timid stray cat whose body was covered in weeping abscesses, on top of which he was suffering from FIV (Feline ‘Aids’).

ABOVE: Sadly Kai was beyond help

An unneutered tom cat, he had been forced to fight for his territory even when he was sick and clearly suffering.

Tragically, there was nothing that the vet could do to save him.

AIN also rescued a semi-feral cat with a badly injured leg, who did not survive despite veterinary care.

The latest arrival at AIN is a one-eyed cat called Boo, whose owner had to move due to health issues and was unable to bring Boo along.

Boo is a lovely, 3-year-old cat who will make a fantastic companion. AIN also took in a 12-year-old Persian cat. The cat is currently undergoing veterinary treatment, including having four teeth removed during a dental clean.

This poor cat also has infections in all four paws due to ingrowing claws as he was an indoor cat with no scratch posts available to sharpen his claws.

He also had badly matted fur. There was good news for several of AIN’s adult foster cats as Molly, Gig and Dermot all went to new homes.

Hand-reared kittens Suds and Badger are doing well and have reached 4-weeks-old.

ABOVE: Hand-reared kittens are doing well

The kittens had been abandoned as newborns when their mother was disturbed whilst she was giving birth and so she ran away but did not return.

Suds and Badger quickly took to being bottle-fed special kitten milk formula by their fosterer and are now sturdy, healthy kittens. The AIN volunteers were called out to help a leveret (baby hare) at the weekend.

Unfortunately, the leveret was suffering from a head trauma and was found lying close to a main road, so he was most likely hit by a car. The leveret was given emergency medication under direction from Dooletter Wildlife Rescue, but sadly the young hare passed away before he could be transferred to Dooletter.

Finally, AIN have launched two exciting new products as part of their fundraising efforts.

First up is a reusable, cotton shopping tote for €3 and there is also a stylish stylus pen for only €1.50. Both items are on sale in AIN’s Charity Shop in Donegal Town or through the charity’s Facebook page.

AIN’s volunteers are all unpaid and all money raised goes directly towards the care of the rescued animals.

For further information on adoption, fostering, volunteering etc, please contact the main helpline on 087 1356188. For cat/kitten enquiries please call 087 7644420. Animals In Need Donegal is also on Facebook and has a website at http://www.animalsinneeddonegal.com.

To help AIN’s animals, please donate €2 to AIN’s ‘Help Us To Help Them’ fundraising appeal via your phone by texting the word ‘KITTEN’ to 50300. Every cent goes directly to the rescued animals for their food, bedding, vet bills, worming treatment, and vaccinations.