Willows Animal Sanctuary, Lambhill Farm, Strichen, Frashburgh, Aberdeen, AB43 6NY. They have over 300 animals for sponsorship, their also do a lot for people as well as animals.
Web: www.willowsanimals.com
Email: kate@willowsanimals.com

Edward in the picture, bless him he looks so sweet, but his life was far from pleasant. He spent the first 18 months in a cat basket!! Can you believe it! A cat basket, how can anyone be so stupid?

Wish list for Willows is donations, donate old jewellery, sponsor an animal, join their Weather Lottery Scheme.

SEAVIEW ANIMAL SHELTER
Marmaduke was another badly neglected, starved stray. Full of confidence despite his predicament. He is a silent cat who never, ever, meows. Marmaduke is a firm favourite with the dogs who absolutely dote on him, though why I do not know, as he is very prone to giving them a good slapping round the head with his paws!

Marmaduke is seeking sponsors. For £24 per year, you would receive quarterly updates on his welfare and photographs by email. For details on how to sponsor any of the animals at this shelter click on: SPONSORSHIP AND FUNDRAISING
Read More Seaview 'Cat' & Other Animal Rescue Stories

Dear Andrea

Many thanks for the help. (£100 Donation Dec 2003) It couldn't of come at a better time as I have two spays and a castration in at the vets on Monday plus the outstanding bill to pay as well.

Yes we now have a website www.seaviewanimalshelter.1to1.org
I need to publise it a lot more. I do get hits but so far only one sponsor. Let me know what you think of it.

Once again, thanks very much for your help.
All the best
Kerry Barlow
Seaview Animal Shelter.

DAMIEN

Damien arrived in November 2002. He was originally a much wanted pet. His owners circumstances changed which meant the lady of the house was out at work every day, whereas previously she had been at home to care for her pets. Although Damien had not been cruelly treated (he had still been fed and watered daily and cleaned out weekly) he was now becoming neglected, and was not receiving the attention he was used to. He was also being cared for by an autistic child ! He had previously been to the Vet's with a swelling on his stomach. By the time he arrived at the rescue it was the size of a tangerine!

Damien was taken to the Vet's and booked in the following day for the tumour removed. He was a little fighter and coped well with the anaesthetic. He was very sore for a while but eventually the wound healed. A few people have offered him a home but he is prone to water infections, and it would be a big commitment for anyone to take on. He is 4.5 years old and will live at the rescue for the rest of his life due to his medical problems and the fact that I have become too attached to him to let him go. I love him very much.

Damien is available as a sponsor pig. Please contact the rescue for details.

Story by Louise

Web: www.squeakypigsrescue.co.uk
Tel: 01977 558666.
SQUEAKY PIGS GUINEA PIG RESCUE. Castleford West Yorkshire.

Merlin

Still very thin but looking so much better than on his arrival a number of weeks ago, Merlin has been cared for by Fife Cat Shelter for some time now. He was discovered, abandoned at Kinghorn Loch in Fife, trying to fend for himself, in an area where he would have to hunt. No apparent problem there, you might think, until you take into account, his long-standing gum disease and teeth problem, which made his mouth extremely painful. This makes hunting for food and then trying to eat it with sore teeth and swollen gums a major problem! Merlin lost weight because of this, and combined with a thyroid problem had become ill and initially unhomeable. Fortunately, a passer-by saw his plight and the Shelter took over.
Veterinary advice was to remove the thyroid and have all teeth removed.

Merlin is still being cared for at the Shelter until he's a little stronger, however, a new home has been found for him and when his health has improved he'll be off to sample the delights of a new, happier life.
Our thanks to Wetnose who assisted his recovery by giving generous financial aid.
Update 01/07/04 - Merlin is in his new home now and although still under the care of the vet is much improved and a very happy puss!
Story by Margaret Kidd - Fife Cat Shelter

Nobby's story

Nobby had apparently been abandoned when his owners moved to France. They were breeders and took all the other ponies, including Nobby's mother and left him all alone. The new owners didn't know anything about ponies and didn't want him.

We found the place easily, even if it was down a long muddy lane and through a flower farm. On the way, I wished we'd come in the four wheel drive. The poor old Corsa is a bit low slung for rutted roads.

The place was a tip - literally! When we reached the house, both sides of the road were piled high with rubbish because the new owner was stripping out the house completely. The owner was lovely and we were met by a three dogs, ranging from a very soppy Rotweiller, a Jack Russell and a tiny Yorkie, who decided I was a soft touch and sat on my lap later when we were filling forms.

We went straight over to a dot on the hillside which was this minute, miniature Shetland foal - Nobby was only about six months old. He must have seen his whole herd suddenly disappear one day, including his mother when he was just four months old. For a little colt, he was extremely quiet, depressed and totally traumatised. He looked pretty wormy too.

I don't think I have ever seen such a quiet foal - even at the Dartmoor foal sales.

After seeing Nobby, the owner said she had been left some piglets and geese too. So we all had to walk up the next hill to see them. I adore pigs, and these were clean and in a lovely grassy pen with their own "house". Apparently they used to run free, but they would come into the house and with all the building work going on, they had to be shut in, I immediately imagined them feasting on a box of nails or getting in the paint.

We went back to the house and sat at a beautiful carved table and had a coffee and filled up the forms, Nobby had to come in quickly, he needed company.

While we were enjoying our coffee, our host started to sing and although we were a bit startled at first, because normal people don't usually do that sort of thing. We found it enchanting to listen to all the dogs joining in. It was a great show. the Rotty howled, the Jack Russell barked and the Yorkie, from inside my jumper, yipped away with great enthusiasm. Obviously, it was just time for a song - I just love people like this.

It is hard to imagine anyone abandoning a lovely foal like Nobby - who was born from registered parents. We saw as he walked down the hill, that he had "clicky" stifles. A deformity in the stifle joint and one that is quite common amongst Shetland and Dartmoor ponies. Perhaps that's why he was left behind.

It was lovely to see his reaction when he first went out with Benny - he couldn't leave him alone and although is still quiet with people - he's a lunatic now with the other Shetland ponies.

Rosemary Kind
Mare and Foal Rescue Centre

TOM came into the Shelter aged 6 months.

I had just got
home from work, when a member of the public phoned to say she had a cat she wanted rid of pretty immediately. I asked a volunteer driver to collect the cat and hand it into the vet, which is standard practice.

When I went to see the cat, I noticed its abdomen was a strange shape, although this was not always apparent. Vet decided to X-Ray, only to find that the cat had a small biro pen, similar to the ones you write orders for in Argos, inside it.

Following a successful operation and cat now very well and happily re-homed. You can only start to imagine the horror for
the cat. No way would any cat voluntarily swallow a biro pen!

This is FRED a Blue & Gold Macaw. Fred was leg chained to a stand for 19 years. He spent the last 9 years on the same stand with a 12in-perch and leg-chain shut in a bathroom, without any toys or anything to do. Only visited by his owner each morning with food & water, Fred was then left alone until the rest day.

Because of his raucous voice, his ‘owner’ would hit him with a rolled up newspaper. Fred resorted to feather plucking. After arriving at NLPR, we found that Fred had a recurring eye infection, further investigations revealed that he is partially blind in one eye; a beautiful bird maimed for life by constantly hit with a newspaper.
He also had a calcium deficiency, overall malnutrition, and muscle atrophy; he would climb cage-wire synonymous with a fragile old lady trying to get out of her chair. Seven years on, Fred is healthy and strong with a beautiful spirit, restored of pride and dignity, though the essence of his spirit lives high above green canopies.

Ella
She was part of a feral colony near a farm. A lady who has rescued a number of cats, who have often been road traffic accidents told us about his one, the cats from the colony often come to her for food. As you will see from the photos, her upper lip was so badly damaged, we don't know how, that it has had to be removed. She will always look as she does now, which will put many people off giving her a home. She is becoming much more brave,
and although startled by sudden noises, she does like to be stroked.

Story by Rhona Gordon
Fife Cat Shelter

OLIVER a new current resident. Handed in as a stray, poor cat shook and shook with fear whenever anyone went near him.
He has now been neutered and is starting to relax. He only has half a tail, and has odd coloured eyes. In time he will learn that peolple really are his friends, and that he does not need to cower down when a finger is put out to tickle his ears.

Stories by Rhona Gordon
Fife Cat Shelter