PHILADELPHIA — The 57 painted donkeys installed around Philadelphia ahead of last week’s Democratic National Convention will be removed ahead of schedule.

Former governor Ed Rendell said Wednesday the donkeys will be taken off the streets Aug. 23, about 10 days sooner than planned. That’s because the volunteers who maintained the statues left at the end of the convention.

State delegations plan to ship home all but five of the donkeys, which will be auctioned off.

The fiberglass donkeys represent the 50 states, five territories, Washington, D.C., and overseas Democrats.