Veterinary Medicine Student Ambassador Ciara Sweeney explains what it is like to do EMS at the Donkey Sanctuary in Cork.
It’s drawing closer to the end of final year and I only have two more weeks of EMS (or seeing practice) left before I’ve completed my full 24 weeks. So what better way to spent that time than in the Donkey Sanctuary in Liscarroll, Co Cork.
The Donkey Sanctuary have four farms in the Liscarroll area and donkeys under their care reside in these farms and in homes throughout the country. The farm that most people will know of is the Knockardbane farm where 134 donkeys reside. This farm is open to the public all year round with its beautiful countryside scenery and walkways. The Donkey Sanctuary itself is an international charity with 29 countries involved in their projects to protect donkeys and promote donkey welfare. In 2015 alone, the Donkey Sanctuary rescued 500 donkeys in Ireland.
As you can imagine The Donkey Sanctuary is a place where as a student I got to see and assist with lots of things. I feel really lucky to have had the chance to work with these ridiculously cute and curious creatures and their wonderful veterinary team. As the first photo might tell you – the other donkeys and a cat were more than willing to lend a hand while I was trying to perform a physical exam on one of the donkeys (FYI this photo made it to the Donkey Sanctuary Instagram #InstaFamous). I have to say, after my EMS with them, if I didn’t love dogs so much I could see myself being a donkey vet.
To learn more about the Donkey Sanctuary visit their website (I would highly recommend visiting their Knockardbane Farm next time you are in Cork) and definitely look at their Instagram feed to spot myself as well as tonnes of photos of ridiculously cute donkeys.
