It has been a busy time recently at the Sanctuary. The winter is always a very tiring time of year but the horses especially, have found this winter difficult as it was so wet and now is cold. It should be spring soon and then I need to look for some grazing for the horses to have a rest. I have taken in quite a few more residents. A rabbit named Samantha whose owners couldn’t keep her. Gary the guineau-pig keeps her company, as well as three, as yet to be named Quails. Very sadly the mother of the Degus died recently very suddenly. I had no way of knowing how old she was or how many litters of babies she had had before she came to me which is very tiring for them and greatly fore-shortens their life. As her daughter was then left on her own and was absolutely devastated I then had to go and buy another female to keep her company and they seemed to have settled in well. I have taken in two other rabbits who came with no names so have been called Bonny and Clyde and they are very affectionate. Their owners had grown tired of them so didn’t want them any more.

Helga a German Shepherd cross Border Collie has also joined the population as her owner was having personal problems having rescued her from an abusive home as a puppy and could no longer keep her. She is very good with all of the small animals but is not used to people and other dogs as she has not been socialised. She is much better with people now and has begun to understand how to play with the other dogs better. She also now goes to agility training, which she has shown aptitude for so you never know you may see her at Crufts in years to come. Watch this space!

The final new arrivals recently have been four goats and two geese from a family who were having difficulty coping with them and reluctantly wanted to find a home where they could stay together. The goats had to have a run and shelter built for them for £1000 so that has severely hit the debit balance! The geese took a while to settle in but now seem a bit more relaxed.