Three donkeys rescued by animal welfare officers may have to be put down if a new home cannot be found for them, a court has heard.
During an application made under the Welfare of Animals Act 2011, Derry Magistrates Court was told the. application related to three donkeys which were seized from an area of land, but that the owner of the land had not been established.
The address on court documents was Deerpark Road, Castledawson.
The court heard enquiries have been ongoing to establish ownership of the animals, and that the trustees who own the land had sent a letter which identified the alleged owner.
The court was told that the local council was satisfied that the party identified by the trustees was not the owner.
An Animal Welfare Officer was present in court for the application, which was for the seizure of the three donkeys for the purpose of re-homing them.
The court was told if the donkeys, which described as being in “good condition,” would have to be ‘euthanized’.
However, the court heard officers were hopeful a new home could be found for the donkeys.
District Judge Barney McElholm granted the application for the seizure of the animals.
In February, four Derry donkeys, spared by Mr McElholm, from being “put down,” were spared when they were rehomed in a donkey sanctuary.
Derry City and Strabane District Council had made an application to the city’s Magistrates Court under the Animal Welfare Act for a Disposal Order to rehouse the four destitute animals that were allegedly abandoned near Ervey Wood in Eglinton.
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