Ivy & Evie Meet their New Family

You may remember Ivy and Evie the sheep who joined us a little earlier in the year after they were found homeless and lost (suspected to have been stolen!) and wandering in the middle of the road.

All new animals have to undergo a quarantine period here where we will assess their health and ensure that they can safely join our other animals. Unfortunately these girls had to remain quarantined for longer than we had hoped as Ivy was found to be suffering with pneumonia shortly after arriving - this can often be brought on by stress in animals, and they’d certainly had a stressful few days with all that must have happened to them! They also had a heavy worm burden which needed to be treated as well before they could make any new friends.

After a lot of extra care, love, veterinary treatment and patience, we were happy that they were healthier and ready to join a group. We chose “Auntie’s group” as they are some of our gentler sheep, and Auntie is always ready to mother another sheep in need (which is why she now has her own little group of misfits). They were instant friends and we couldn’t be happier!

Thank you, as always, for your support - this makes happy endings like this possible for us!

Viking Settlement!

We are very pleased to introduce you to Hrafn Vaeringi, a fantastic locally based Living History group who are working on a Viking Settlement build project here at the sanctuary. You can follow their progress on the project’s Facebook page here: Viking Settlement Project

If you are interested in their work or would like to join them, they are currently recruiting new members! As their village starts to take shape it will act as a base of operations and will function as an authentic Living History Village. If you think you have what it takes to be part of Hrafn – builders, fighters, crafters, and living history performers; send them a message, or come along and see them at the village every Sunday!

As one of their fighters you will be fully trained in both Eastern and Huscarl rules combat and will get the opportunity to fight both here in England and in Europe. If fighting is not for you, you can still join as a non-combatant.

The group are also looking for funds to support the Viking Settlement Build Project. “We sacrifice our free time, money, sweat and tears to build a Viking Settlement in the West Midlands area. We are extremely fortunate and feel truly blessed for this opportunity. We can't do it without you! Building materials cost; wood and tools being the most expensive ones. The project will bring amazing value to the community providing various events, education & living history. Every pound helps!”

Building Begins...

You can donate via their GoFundMe Page, which has so far raised £710 of their £1,500 target! or send them a message if you think that you might be able to help them out with materials/labour. Thank you!

Sweet Dreams, Beautiful Sophie

It is with the greatest of sadness that we have to tell you that Sophie the Raccoon has fallen peacefully asleep and left us. We knew she was much older than Fiona when we took her in (we suspect she may have been her mother), but she hid exactly how old she was quite well, and after a short battle with several age-related conditions, and trying every treatment we possibly could (thank you to our exotics vets who pulled out all the stops for her); it was simply her time. No more pain, no sickness, no fear. Only love. And love her we always will.

We are so sad that we didn’t get longer with this beautiful brave girl. Sophie came to us just over a year ago, after spending her life until then in a cage on a puppy farm that has, thankfully, now been shut down! She was very timid when she first came here, but slowly started to come out of her shell and trusted us. We were over the moon when we completed their brand new enclosure (thanks to your support) and so was she... exploring every corner, splashing in her pool, climbing, playing, sunbathing, and snuggling up with Fiona in her warm bed. We wish she could have had this new life for longer, but we’re so happy that she got this time with us and put her past well and truly behind her.

While Fiona loves to play rough, she was nothing but gentle with her in her final days, clearly knowing she just needed peace and comfort. Raccoons are social animals so when the time is right we hope to offer a happy home to others in need of a forever home, joining Fiona so that she doesn’t become lonely. For now she’s getting lots of extra cuddles and fuss from us and is doing well. Animals will never cease to amaze us with their strength!

Not a day will go by that we won’t think of our darling Sophie and we hope that you will remember her fondly too. As long as they live on in our hearts, they never truly leave us.

Sweet dreams Sophie xxx