AN ANIMAL SANCTUARY in Kerry took a beating in yesterday’s storms with a number of its horse sheds flattened by the gale force winds.

On its Facebook page, Animal Heaven Animal Rescue (AHAR), founder Suzanne Gibbons described the terrifying scenes, as “buckets blew past my face, dog runs just lifted and left the dogs out”.

“Then the roof of the small stables started flying into the air,” she explained. “For all the world like someone threw a deck of cards.”

We all stood in shock and disbelief. Devastated, as we watched the fear in the eyes of the animals we promised were safe. Now terrified.

The sanctuary put a call out to anyone and everyone for help moving horses out of the sheds and to safety before they fell to the ground. Tralee Civil Defence and a number of local people pitched together to get the terrified animals out of the ruined stables.

In one photo of a shed that can hold up to 20 horses, posted today, Gibbons said it was “crushed like paper” by the strong winds.

The shelter will now have to try to raise funds to repair the devastation.