'Please help if you can' - Animal rescue begs people to rehome hens due to be slaughtered

An animal rescue is begging people to rehome hens as thousands are due to be slaughtered this week. 

Little Hill Animal Rescue and Sanctuary issued an appeal over the weekend (March 23) in a bid to save as many hens as possible out of a total 6,000 destined for the slaughterhouse. 

The hens - which are ex-commercial egg laying hens - are due to be killed next week. 

In a post published on Facebook, a Little Hill spokesperson stated, "We have just been contacted about 6,000 poor hennies going to the slaughterhouse next Thursday.

"We only have ONE driver at present, and as we got such short notice, we will do one run next Thursday 28th March, collecting any hens we have home offers for that morning just to save as many as we can." 

They continued: "Please read to the end: We are coming to Sligo, Virginia, Newbliss/Clones, Longford, Mullingar, Belturbet, Carrick on Shannon, Blacklion and Manorhamilton.

"Important: Please private message with your chosen collection point, number of hennies and phone number. Adopt fee applies. Please travel a bit.

"Bring adequate transport containers ie cat carriers/dog crate/cardboard boxes with lots of air holes. Check the Department of Agriculture Website for current regulations." 

Another post reads: "Just no time now to do much. We are going to give one run a shot and save as many as we can - but it will be on Thursday next in the direction of Cavan, Sligo, Longford.

"Can everyone help where possible please? Please help if you can... so little time left."