The heartbroken animal lover, Manti Liebenberg, lost 10 of her 12 donkeys to a suspected poisoning incident and is now desperate for answers. On Monday evening, Liebenberg was woken up by a braying donkey and barking dog on her plot, but owing to her living alone, she couldn’t go outside to check if the animals were okay, merely observing the situation from her door. She fell asleep and woke up at 5:45 on Tuesday to go make breakfast for her guests. When looking around her premises to see if all was okay, she stumbled across a harrowing scene, donkey after donkey lying unconscious without a sign of life. Only three were found alive, but one had to be put down by the SPCA and Liebenberg’s personal veterinarian, as it was already dying.

Preliminary investigations by the SPCA, the state and her personal veterinarian, indicate the donkeys were deliberately poisoned. Samples from their stool, intestines, mouths, and food were taken to a local laboratory, for intensive testing and analysis. The Donkey Inn owner says the results will take a few days before they are available. In the meantime, she has opened a case with local police. Liebenberg doesn’t know who could have poisoned her donkeys, telling OFM News, she doesn’t have any enemies or disgruntled customers and gets along well with her employees.

The two remaining donkeys are still alive and recovering from the incident.

In the meantime, Liebenberg’s post on the incident has resulted in an outpouring of support from the Bloemfontein community. Many, as well as the SPCA, have expressed interest in donating donkeys to the inn. Liebenberg says whilst she is very touched by the overwhelming support and donations, she is not in the emotional position yet to accept it.

OFM News