PETS


now, alongside the day-to-day animal care, is to raise somewhere in the region of £184,000 to re-develop the kennels and bring the canine accommodation right up to date. Animal welfare has improved since the


19-berth kennels were established 30 years ago and the need for drainage, heating, more space and better visibility so that four-legged residents can have the reassurance of seeing what’s happening around them is widely recognised. So too are the benefits of polypropylene cladding which will help significantly with hygiene and soundproofing, and there are also plans to develop the front of the site into a training area. With a reliance on goodwill, donations,


sponsorship and adoption income only just cover the basic cost of essentials such as vaccines, neutering, microchipping and general maintenance - there is no surplus for development. To make life more comfortable for their canine


Eggy and his new owners With any luck, she’ll follow in the pawprints


of former resident Eggy, who finally found new owners earlier this summer. Due to his breed as a Staffordshire Bull Terrier, little Eggy, named after eggnog having arrived at the sanctuary at Christmas 2015, was overlooked for more than two years until being adopted by a young couple who instantly fell in love with him. Others, such as six-year-old pug Frank, find


new homes quickly despite their issues. At his previous home, Frank found himself left on his own for long periods and was never toilet trained despite his age. His pee problem meant his owners had had enough and gave up on poor Frank. Arriving at Thornberry in August, staff taught


him the basics and his number of accidents quickly reduced thanks to lots of walks outside the compound. This old dog still has a lot of new tricks to learn but he’s an affectionate, cuddly fellow who will make a great family pet for his new owners who took him home in September. Up at the equine centre, they currently have


around 30 horses and ponies up for adoption, with the team of staff and volunteers helping to rehabilitate those who have their own sorry stories to share such as Max and his little mate Harry who were recently re-homed together on the edge of the Scottish borders. Max had a traumatic start to life and it was


touch-and-go whether the Thornberry staff would be able to save him. They received a desperate phone call one day to say his heavily pregnant mother, Brooke, would be shot if someone didn’t come and take her in. Foaling mares are not meant to be moved in


Frank and his new owners


the six-weeks before giving birth and so Brooke had not been properly prepared for birth. Once she settled and felt safe at Thornberry after five days, she eventually gave birth but Max was large and made for a difficult delivery, even at the hands of a five-strong team of helpers. With Brooke not having had chance to build up


anti-bodies to her new surroundings, Max was born with a potentially fatal bacterial infection, causing him to be temporarily blind and deaf; he wouldn’t let his mother near him, never mind the staff. Thankfully, Max survived against all odds – but


at a cost of £1,000 to the centre. Now two-years- old, Max has come on in leaps and bounds and has made his way up north for a bright, adventurous future. Keeping him company is his stablemate Harry,


a previously wayward colt who also came to Thornberry under pressurised circumstances. To keep him apart from a female herd,


Harry had been left tied to a lady’s fence who contacted Thornberry as she was terrified of what might happen to him. On arriving at Thornberry, Harry was castrated and can now roam more freely and mix with the other horses. With lots of work to keep them busy, the


Thornberry team are always on the lookout for volunteers to help with fundraising events or in the onsite café and shop at Todwick Road which opens at weekends to help generate income. Those with more time to spare may also be interested in becoming a trustee and taking on a more varied, in-depth role within the running of the sanctuary. But the biggest challenge at Thornberry


guests for the next 30 years and more, the team at Thornberry now hope that their plans can be made reality thanks to help from the generous public. You can donate as little as £1 via text by sending KENN18 followed by £1, £2, £3, £5 or £10 or any amount you can spare to 70070. Christmas is obviously a time when people feel


the financial pinch but it’s also a time when we can think about how best to spend our hard- earned cash and make a lasting difference. If you do consider adding Thornberry Animal


Sanctuary to this year’s gift list, you can at least be sure that any present will be very gratefully received, which perhaps can’t always be said of our usual recipients. They are always on the look-out for new supplies and have an Amazon wishlist which they regularly update with necessities they may be running low on. And remember that old adage – a pet is for life,


not just for Christmas. No doubt after the festive bubble of new puppies, kittens and bunnies has burst, Thornberry will once again be inundated with new arrivals from families who may have made rash decisions and cannot care for their new pets. If you are considering adding a furry friend to


your family this winter - one you want for keeps - there are lots of happy faces and wagging tails who may be a little rough around the edges looking to finally find their forever home.


Support & Donations


To support Thornberry Animal Sanctuary in any way or to make a much-needed donation towards the kennels re-development, please telephone 01909 564399, email admin@thornberryanimalsanctuary.org donate online at www.justgiving.com/ thornberryanimalsanctuary


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