Sue with Luke and Morestina.
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One of the questions I am often asked is why I started the Sanctuary in the first place. To say it started by accident when witnessed the sorry state of so many of Ireland's donkeys is true enough but nevertheless touches only part of the motivation. The main reason was something from the heart, not easily expressible and I am greatly indebted to Wendy Valentine of Hillside Animal Sanctuary in Norfolk, England, for verbalising what I have so often failed to express. She speaks of a horse called Beth . 'Beth doesn't make the grade in any way that would make her usuable again...... but Beth is the reason society need places such as ours, places of refuge for nonperformers in a performance based culture. Beth and all the others to whom we have given sanctuary from abuse, neglect and slaughter, are mere whispers in a world with the importance of such as performance, competence, viability and productivity.' Well said Wendy! And thank you. So when we at the Sanctuary are criticised for caring as much about animals as about adults and children, I gently remind these individuals that all is one and that if our children can understand a world that allows places of hope and healing for animals, then maybe, just maybe, they will grow up with a vision for a world full of hope and healing for us all. When we, as humans, were given 'dominion' over the animals we were given great power: power to care. The word dominion, literally translated, means lordship, a word which encompasses caring and responsibility towards those in our care. Why else do we accord our great religious leaders the title of 'Lord' - Lord Jesus, Lord Krishna, Lord Buddha etc.? Here, at the Sai Sanctuary, we have physical space for only around a dozen donkeys at a time with their pony and sheep comrades and resident dogs, ducks and cats. The Sanctuary is a tiny star where we strive to create a miniature heaven on earth for these old and imperfect animals who have nothing left to give except their considerable love, where they can co-exist in peace for the rest of their days. It is an ideal which would have no place without the support and enthusiasm of all the you's and me's of which society is made. |
Enquiries to: Sue Paling, Sathya Sai Sanctuary Trust for Nature, Cloghogue Lower, Castlebaldwin, Co Sligo, Ireland. Frontpage | All the donkeys | Spring 1994 | Autumn 1994 | Spring 1995 | Autumn 1995 | Autumn 1996 | Spring 1997 | Autumn 1997 | Spring 1998 | Autumn 1998 | Spring 1999 | Autumn 1999 | Spring 2000 | Autumn 2000 | Spring 2001 | Autumn 2001 | Spring 2002 | Autumn 2002 | Adopt a Donkey | Donkey Links | E mail
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