Owners abandon donkeys as feed cost rises

SAN ANTONIO, Sept. 12 (UPI) -- Texas donkey owners have resorted to abandoning the animals as a record-breaking drought shows few signs of ending, officials say.

Cash-strapped owners have found keeping donkeys too expensive with hay bale prices more than double last year's at $125, the San Antonio (Texas) Express-News reported Sunday.

"Donkey rescues have gone through the roof," said Mark Meyers, executive director of Peaceful Valley Donkey Rescue in California.

Meyers said his rescue operation has taken 500 donkeys from Texas since March -- 100 more than the group took nationwide last year.

"You can't sell them or give them away and you can't feed them, so you're stuck," Meyers said. "They're just releasing them on someone else's property."

It costs Peaceful Valley about $1,000 to care for each donkey, stretching resources. Donkeys at the rescue facility are available for adoption but few people are looking to adopt the animals, Meyers said.