A vegan animal sanctuary in the northwest of Ireland is in danger of sinking due to persistent flooding, endangering the lives of animals living in the sanctuary. 

Heartstone Veganic Sanctuary, which is located in Aclare County Sligo, was founded by Nía Ní Gréine to give abused animals a second chance at life. 

The sanctuary, which became a registered charity in 2023, currently houses 12 cows, 11 sheep, three ponies, three vegan cats, two vegan dogs, and a swarm of black bees. 

"I started Heartstone to offer abused farm animals a life where they are no longer seen as commodities, but individuals who deserve to be treated with love and compassion," Ní Gréine said in a post on Instagram last November. 

However, she has frequently warned that the sanctuary is in danger of sinking due to flooding at the site, adding that buildings are now collapsing. 

She has described every day at the sanctuary as a "neverending nightmare", stating that she is met with "disaster after disaster". 

Ní Gréine is urgently seeking sponsors to help relocate the animals at the sanctuary to a more secure site. 

Speaking to IrishCentral, Ní Gréine said that she "can't promise" that Heartsone will still exist in a few days or that the cows will still be alive. She said mandatory tests can no longer be carried out on the site due to damaged infrastructure and added that this can result in animals being seized and destroyed. 

"We’re really struggling. The situation at the current place has disastrously deteriorated, the sanctuary is sinking and the buildings collapsing," Ní Gréine said in November. 

Staff at the sanctuary have been working tirelessly in harsh conditions to care for the animals in the difficult circumstances, but Ní Gréine said they are running out of time and money to do so. 

She has called on people to donate to Heartstone's campaign to help relocate the animals to a secure site and give the sanctuary a fresh start. 

Click here to learn more or to donate to the campaign. 

Related: Animals