The very hardest thing about living and working with animals is the emotional wrench you feel when you lose one. When a new resident arrives at Pen Y Bryn they become part of the wider family. It really doesn’t matter what they are – another chicken, guinea pig, mouse, canary, turkey, dog or pig, they […]
Chapter 13 – Fairy: A Tribute Read More »
In many ways Kelly and I agree that it was Dotty that was the catalyst for us to create an animal sanctuary. Dotty is a black Pomeranian who came home with Kelly one Thursday July evening a couple of years after we had moved to Ross-on-Wye. Kelly at the time worked alongside a lady who,
Chapter 12 – Dotty Read More »
It’s Christmas Eve 2025 and there are three small dogs snoring beneath my desk. I’ve just finished the last shift of the day – the last feeds, the lock ups, the final checks and all is finally in order. It started with feeding Elsa and Mr Snow the two snowy owls. As usual as I
Chapter 11 – A Christmas Interlude Read More »
It must have been about a week after Midnight and Merlin arrived that Kelly ran up to me laughing and smiling whilst I was attempting to complete half the side of a new aviary. ‘Have you seen what Merlin can do?’ She questioned. ‘Merlin? No, what do you mean?’ I replied. ‘Oh come on, you
Chapter Ten – Trust Read More »
Kelly and I had words the afternoon that the two pigs had arrived. Strong words. Angry words. I was exhausted both mentally and physically but above all I felt that the situation was out of control. I had gone to great lengths to prepare for two small pigs. I felt comfortable and confident in my
Chapter Nine – Midnight and Merlin Read More »
I heard them before I saw them. A deep guttural snuffle of a snort. It wasn’t dark in the horse box as there was plenty of light coming through the windows, but it took me a moment or two to get my bearings, which in such a small space was surprising. Then I saw the
Chapter Eight – Pigs vs Man Read More »
Many of our residents actually arrive from other sanctuaries some of which have run into difficulties of one kind or another or they reach out to us because they have taken on an animal that is not best suited to their set up. We haven’t come across one rescue or sanctuary not run by a
CHAPTER SEVEN – PIGS Read More »
Lana’s first summer was upon her and she was now fully settled in her paddock along with the sheep. Things still startled her from time to time, but she was doing fine. In quick order she had found her place within the ‘flockherd’ and it was a joy to witness her jostle with the rams
CHAPTER SIX – LANA TAKE’S ME FOR A RIDE Read More »
The days were warming, Lana was getting stronger and more confident and the daily walks became walks to the paddock where we would leave her for increasing amounts of time until eventually she was spending a good proportion of the day mooching around in the company of the sheep and chickens. It was all becoming
CHAPTER FIVE – Lana Gets Stung Read More »
Lana’s walks and time outside in the daytime were getting longer. We would now walk her round the perimeter of the whole sanctuary and let her stop and sniff, taste and examine the grass, foliage and ground that she came into contact with. She was no longer the frail two week old calf that we
Chapter Four – A Taste Of Spring Read More »
