Somerset’s Ferne Animal Sanctuary launches urgent appeal

An animal charity is issuing an urgent appeal for more funding to help it survive a cash-flow issue.

Ferne Animal Sanctuary near Chard said it needs £100,000 to get through the next four months due to rising costs.

“We’re moving Heaven and Earth to get us through this,” the charity’s CEO Kevan Hodges said. In the longer term, the center is opening more charity shops to raise funds.

The rescue center shelters about 300 animals at any time.

Nikki Haddock, animal care manager at Ferne, said: “Not all our animals are rehomed, some stay with us for their entire lives.

“We are seeing more dogs come in with behavioral issues and medical issues that have gone untreated for a long time. None of it is cheap.

“Our vet treatments bill per year is around £80,000-£100,000.”

She said the most recent cats found in a cardboard box were doing well – but one of them was pregnant.

Mr Hodges said costs for veterinary bills and food were going up, and the charity was struggling to keep up.

“We are in a classic situation where cash is king,” he told BBC Radio Somerset.

“We need this appeal to be successful over the next few months.

“Because of a huge increase in costs over the last 24 months we’re in this position now.”

He said they were in the process of opening more charity shops, but in the meantime, they were relying on the appeal to be successful.

“I’m extremely positive that we are going to get through it,” Mr. Hodges added.