The happenings over the last few weeks at the sanctuary would have made the subject of a documentary. One little ad for volunteers has provoked an enormous response- over 40 people in all have contacted us- and made a huge difference to the running of the sanctuary. There is usually a fall out of people who are curious rather more than serious who fall by the wayside but so far- fingers crossed- this seems not to be the case. Everyone seems to be most conscientous and enthusiastic and the animals are benefiting enormously. There are 2 retired firemen, one ex- prison officer, a mechanic and a builder with three excellent sons who are also tackling fence repairs, electric fencing, the mending of stables and chicken sheds etc. and for the first time with requests for drills, saws, and various sizes of nails and screws I have become a regular at the hardware stores. So we now have teams of between three and six people a day who, after all the hard work of cleaning is done, are regularly grooming and hoof-picking all the donkeys and ponies and brushing all the cats and – apart from looking wonderful- the animals are enjoying all the attention enormously. The only problem is the occasional feline or equine jealousies that arise so having teams of people working on more than one at a time are a good idea. Hansel, one of the recent arrivals gets very jealous of his little delicate friend, Gretel and Starsky and Hutch, the donkey clowns, never help very much as they always pick up and run off with all the brushes and combs which we then find scattered round the paddocks.
At the week-ends we almost become an academy providing work experience for teenagers studying to be vets or doing agricultural or equine courses or animal husbandry. They tend to stay all day and when the work is over ride Shabba and Marty round the middle paddock which is wonderful as it keeps them exercised and young Marty keeps up with his training. Amazing advances have been made with Nutmeg the ten year old, blind- in- one- eye pony. She had ended up with a dealer and was destined for the abbattoir but someone intervened and brought her to us. Since then with a major de-worming program she has become very fit and is now being lunged, ridden and even jumped. Wouldn’t it be nice if she ended up winning the International Horse Trials! On the rescue front we had a call from Riding for the Disabled which sadly had a horse that could no longer be ridden and which they no longer wanted. We are full to capacity at present but I did manage to find it a home with friends who have too much paddock and a lovely stable so she will live in comfort for the rest of her days.
The 2 kittens we took in- one black female called Midnight and one white male named Jaspar-are both being neutered tomorrow. Both are wonderfully affectionate and will be needing good homes in the near future. Little Camilla the Chinchilla cat who was a gentle soul was very worried by dogs and most other cats. At the moment she is on a trial placement with a couple with an elderly Siamese and so far the reports are hopeful , so fingers crossed. We have also taken on Paris a young deaf neutered male feline from Brighton Cat Refuge. They wanted a home far from roads so we fit the bill. But- as with Ollie, the deaf white Persian, they are always a worry as if they are missing it is futile to call as they can’t hear you. The other cat that has a major problem is Tatiana the tortoiseshell former feral. I have been talking to Matt the vet at Arun vets in Pulborough and wait to see what the verdict is on her damaged leg. She goes in on Wednesday and may have to have orthopaedic surgery or at worst amputation. Fortunately the coffee morning Holly, the owner, gave us at her lovely Sparks Yard shop in Arundel has brought in a little money which will go towards this months vets’ bills. December 8th we have another fund-raising event at the Christmas Fair at the Assembly Rooms in Worthing along with the Mayor and little Jill, our tiny Shetland with the bandy legs.Other people have also kindly contributed towards our animal adoptions for Christmas presents with Sage, the turkey, Acorn the pig and Starsky and Hutch being the special favourites!
Acorn and Hazel are now fully recovered from their drunken episode but had developed nasty sores on their backs. I couldn’t work out what it was until I saw a magpie on their backs pecking away. Now each morning they are sprayed with purple spray and veterinary wound powder and I am adding cod- liver oil and sulphur to their food to help with the healing internally. Sage, the male turkey, is taking his role as protective father far too far getting very angry with us when we try to clean out the turkey quarters and when his wife Onion wants a break he struts about with his turkey children under the umbrella of his wings.
The only thing I could really do without is the hundreds of wild ducks that are eating us out of house and home. I really do believe that in their various quacking sounds they are talking to each other. Our poultry orchard and ponds are really hidden away so they would not have chanced upon us. They have to be telling all their friends that the ABC Sanctuary has a very good bird cafe! We take in another 16 unwanted domestic hens shortly but more of that next time when I will also report on the Christmas Fair in Worthing on Dec. 8th with the little Shetland.
Apart from that- which is quite enough- and the farrier’s visit this Thursday which lasts most of the day with so many hoofs to do- with less fireworks and the new volunteers life for the moment is easier and the animals are happy which is as it should be.
I am now writing an animal health blog called the A to Z of healthy hints which you can get on: www.abcanimalhealth.wordpress.com
That is all for the moment,
All the best,
Alexandra Bastedo.
Copyright Alexandra Bastedo.
THIS WEEK’S ANIMAL TIP:
If you have a horse or pony with an allergy to dry hay instead of soaking the whole hay net which makes it very heavy you can boil up a full kettle of water. You then put the haynet in a dustbin, pour the boiling water over it and put on a lid. After a few minutes the hay will be thoroughly steamed and damp and ready to serve up but still light in weight.
SHOW-BIZ:
My husband’s play “Visiting Mr. Green” starring Warren Mitchell continues its triumphant tour round England. This week it is at Peterborough and next week at the Theatre Royal Brighton. My husband, Patrick Garland , and I were 2 of the presenters at the Theatre Royal’s 200th Anniversary celebrations last weekend which proved to be a wonderful evening. You can read more about that on www.alexandra-bastedo.com
I also did a talk on the theatre in Derby for the Women’s Institute last week and will be presenting the Mantovani Concert with Ed Stewart in Poole on January 27th 2008.
More next time. Goodnight. Alex B.
