Latest Rescue Stories
At the Retreat rescues occur constantly. We often have animals brought to us and we are out regularly collecting or saving animals. It would be impossible to list every rescued/saved animal here so we are going to show a selection as examples of our work. Hopefully we will update the rescues every three to four weeks.
July 2008
Summer holidays are always a particularly busy time at the Retreat with less animals leaving to go to new homes due to everyone going on holiday. This year has been no exception with the massive chicken rescue (see story below); several problem dogs arriving at the Retreat; a large number of cats and many farm animals.
Many of our larger animals including sheep and cattle are in the process of being moved to their summer grazing in Eynsford. This thankfully frees up space for more animals that start to arrive during the summer months.
2008 has been a particularly busy year so far. All the building work that is going on in preparation for the 2012 Olympics, here in London, means that more and more feral cats need to be relocated. Also, due to the new Animal Welfare Laws that came into action earlier in the year, more people are parting with their animals. In addition there have been cereal price increases which mean that people who keep chickens, farm animals and horses have seen massive increases in feed bills (up almost 50%) so therefore some people have started to give up their animals.
Here are some of July's rescue stories:-
Mass Chicken rescue
This rescue of hens, from a farm in Sussex, was organised by Brighton Animal Action and took place over a period of 6 days in July. The hens had reached an age (approximately 72 weeks old) where their eggs were no longer wanted by retailers because they were not considered to be "perfect". The result of this is that the birds, who would otherwise live for many more years, laying "imperfect" eggs, would have simply been sent for slaughter. This particular farm however gave permission for some of their hens to be rescued and re-homed at sanctuaries across the country.
The rescue resulted in over 9,500 birds being saved.
The Retreat has taken over 200 of these hens and has already managed to re-home many of them.
Cats
In one week alone we have taken in 26 cats. Nine of these cats were brought to the Retreat all the way from Ireland; where 87% of stray cats are killed. Cat groups in Ireland are so over-burdened that they have to use rescue centres within the UK to help them with their “no-kill” policies.
Because feral cats are unhomeable there are very few shelters that will take them and of these, there are fewer still that are “non-kill”. The Retreat is one such shelter, which is why the cats had to make the long journey from Ireland to Kent. These poor creatures were farm cats and would have surely been left to breed uncontrollably, resulting in in-breeding and disease; or they would have been exterminated by pest control companies or local farmers, had they not been rescued. This is exactly the type of work that meets our criteria; for these animals have absolutely no guardians.
On arrival the cats were completely MOT’d and microchipped, vaccinated and neutered where necessary. They have now been put into one of our release pens and after a period of time, normally after 4 to 6 weeks, they will be released to join a feral cat colony at one of our sites.
To find out more about some of the fantastic rescue work that is undertaken in Ireland please click on this link The North West Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
Gina
Gina is a Husky/German Shepherd cross, also from Ireland, and she was found sitting outside a bakers. The baker and his family had simply abandoned her when they decided to close the business and move away overseas. Gina sat and waited for her ex-owners to return, but they did not. Gina was therefore taken in by a kind rescuer where she was given the care that she needed. However, there was no potential home and so we, at the Retreat, were asked if we could take her and we did.
Gina is a beautiful dog, now looking for a home.
Carew
Carew, a nine week old, very sick, lurcher puppy was given up by travellers when the Retreat was doing its outreach work at a site in Maidstone. The travellers were glad to see the back of this poor puppy because people had been complaining about its poor health.
We took Carew to the vets, where he was found to have a virus and supportive care was applied. Now this small puppy, who is doing well on four meals a day, is approximately 12 weeks old and coming up for his second vaccination. He will soon be looking for a knowledgeable loving lurcher home. Carew is an exceptionally well behaved lurcher and is good with children, cats and other dogs, also livestock and chickens.
Pigeons
Never a week goes by without huge numbers of pigeons arriving at the Retreat. July was no exception, with many pigeons still arriving from Trafalgar Square. We never refuse pigeons as they are deemed pests. No one at the Retreat Animal Rescue believes that one animal is a pet while another is a pest. We find the word vermin offensive.
One pigeon in particular was rescued by Pigeon June. This little pigeon (we named him Boy Boy) arrived at the centre with a horrific injury - he had no feet. He is now very happy and lives with the other pigeons in the non-release pigeon aviary.
Shetland Sheep
Three unwanted Shetland sheep were sent to the Retreat when their owners could no longer keep them. They were rather late to join our other sheep at the new field in Eynsford but sometime in the future they will join the flock and become new members of the family.
April to June 2008
If you are a regular visitor to our website you will know that, due to various commitments, we have been unable to update this page recently. It is now back to business as usual and we will be updating this page every month. We thought we would take this opportunity to give you an overview of the rescue work that has taken place over the last three months.
As summer approaches the number of animals that need rescuing soars because baby animals are getting to the stage where they are no longer "cute". Also people are starting to plan their summer holidays and do not want to pay costly kennelling and cattery fees. The Retreat has provided a safe haven over the last few months to 10 horses, 3 cows, 6 sheep, 4 goats, over 100 hens, 12 cockerels, 100 pigeons, 4 ferrets, over 20 dogs, 40 cats and numerous small wild animals.
Obviously space at the Retreat is not without its limits and we could not take in the steady stream of rescued animals if we were not able, at the same time, to re-home some. Thankfully re-homing has gone well with 1 sheep, 4 goats, approximately 50 ex-battery hens, 8 dogs, 10 guinea pigs and 1 rabbit going to good homes over the last couple of months.
Finally, one rescue we would like to report is:-
Megan
Megan, the stray sheep, was found at Welling railway station! How or why she came to be there we will probably never know. Megan is approximately 3 years old and she is currently in our new hospital paddock, where she will stay until she has become acclimatised to her new surroundings. When Megan is ready she will join our sheep family.
March 2008
Beloved and Precious
Due to their owner having a serious illness two old horses, Beloved (a bay) and Precious (a small black pony), have come to live at the Retreat.
Bradley
Travellers contacted the Retreat late one Sunday night when, during the high winds, a stable was blown down leaving a tiny, freezing, cold, sick foal. The travellers asked the Retreat to take him. The rescue team attended and brought the poor baby back to the Retreat. Bradley passed 9" tapeworms but we are now pleased to say that he is recovering well at the Retreat.
Dev
Dev was an abandoned foal found wandering through the streets of Rochester. He is approximately 7 months old and when we rescued him he was full of worms, lice and extremely underweight. He initially had to undergo some intensive care, but is now doing well at the Retreat.
Adam
This poor newborn foal was found dead; dumped in the streets of Swanley Village. His body was collected by the Retreat, we named him Adam and then sent him to the pet crematorium to be disposed of with respect.
Orphaned Triplet Lambs
During the recent bad weather three poor orphaned lambs were found standing beside their dead mother. We have named them Abigail, Casey and Pepper. They are now living safely at the Retreat.
Tiffin and Taloula
Two unwanted spaniel cross puppies came to live at the Retreat. We are pleased to say that Tiffin has already been re-homed and we are now looking for the right new home for the lovely little girl, Taloula.
Victor
Victor is a very old ginger cat who was rescued from an uncaring family. He is now living happily with the old cat residents at the Retreat.
25 Cockerels
We have recently taken in 25 cockerels from one woman who failed to control her hens breeding. Removing the eggs would have been the simple solution or re-homing all the cockerels so that the breeding could not continue. Click here for information on integrating cockerels.
Percy
Percy is a tame pheasant who has come to live at the Retreat. Percy had to be relocated for his own safety and is currently living in a release pen until he has settled. Our special thanks go to Barry and Elaine for caring about him.
Ex-Trafalgar Square Pigeons
Bylaws have been changed which mean that feeders are not allowed to feed the pigeons in Trafalgar Square. This has resulted in hundreds of birds being left to starve. A large number of these poor pigeons have been rescued and have come to live at the Retreat.
Wildlife
Wildlife is often rescued by the Retreat including, recently, a small partridge that was found concussed by the side of a road and handed into the Retreat.
February 2008
Tiger Lilly
Tiger Lilly is a minature Shetland Pony who was found stray in someone's garden. She needed immediate veterinary attention due to her injured leg and it was there that we discovered that she is heavily pregnant and due her foal.
Shadow
Shadow is a 15 year old Connemara mare who was no longer wanted due to the fact that she cannot be ridden anymore. She now lives happily at the Retreat with our herd.
Eric and Ernie
Special thanks must go to Lesley, a vet nurse, who rescued 2 six week old male labrador puppies from a car park on Dartford Heath. Both the puppies were very sick, but have received veterinary care and are now recovering well at the Retreat. We will soon be looking for new homes for them.
Dexter
Dexter is a beautiful German Shepherd cross who was no longer wanted due to his owner moving to a smaller house. He is a great big bundle of fun, good with cats, dogs and children and he is now looking for a new home.
Archie
Archie is a Staffordshire Bull Terrier who was no longer wanted due to his boisterous nature.
Austin and Bert
Austin is a year old Bassett Hound who was found to be aggressive. We are pleased to say that Archie is now living happily with his new friends at the Retreat.
Bert is two year old Bassett Hound who had some early health problems. He is now on the road to recovery at the Retreat.
Tommy
Tommy is a Border Collie who, after being involved in a road traffic accident, was taken to Foxgrove vets. It was here that they discovered that he had a broken leg. When his broken leg had been repaired his owner turned up and said that she didn't want him because he was aggressive. He was re-homed by the vets, but after one night he was returned for being food possessive. He now lives happily at the Retreat, where he seems to be fine.
January 2008
Enid and Goldfinger
Enid is an 11 year old ex-breeding cow, who along with her calf Goldfinger, was kindly rescued by June. Year after year Enid has had her calves stolen from her, but now Goldfinger and the calf still inside her, who we are eagerly waiting to be born, will be able to live with her forever at the Retreat - Happy Ending!
Four Piglets
A woman phoned one Friday asking us to take four piglets. We said that we would take them in three weeks time due to the flooding of the stables. The following Sunday evening she pulled up on the drive and left the box without a note! We have named the piglets Charlotte, Emily, Anne and Branwell after the Brontë siblings.
Boston
Boston is a beautiful 5½ month old chocolate Labrador. He was recently purchased from a pet shop and taken to his new home which was a 5th floor flat in East London. After just one week his new owner no longer wanted him because he was not toilet trained. He is now safely at the Retreat where he will be found a good home.
We are pleased to report that Boston has now been found a good and loving home.
Baby Monty
Monty is a Rottweiler cross German Shepherd who was no longer wanted due to an eviction. He is a beautiful dog who loves everybody cats, dogs and children.
Percy
Percy is a 16 year old stray cat found in a garden, unwanted, unloved and un-neutered. He is now neutered, wanted and loved!
Cockerels
There are a growing number of cockerels, with new ones arriving almost every week due to over- breeding and being unwanted.
Tortoiseshell Rabbit
A poor 4 month old rabbit was found on someone's doorstep and brought to the Retreat. Once neutered, it has now safely and happily been teamed up with another rabbit and homed.
3-Legged Rabbit
A woman pulled up in a car at the Retreat and said that she didn't want the creature in the back, which turned out to be a 3-legged rabbit. It has now been sterilized and thankfully homed with other rabbits.
December 2007
Princess Lucky Heather
We have an addition to our bovine family who is, at present, at our site near Eynsford. Princess Lucky Heather came to us from The Hop Farm in Paddock Wood where she was due to be slaughtered for never calfing! She is very tame and friendly and will hopefully meet the rest of the herd shortly.
Megan and Rosie
These two old collies (mother and daughter) were due to be killed as their owner was going into a nursing home. Thankfully a friend of the owner remembered Sue and Ron from the Retreat Café in Grassington and contacted them for help. Sue and Ron in turn contacted us and the dogs found safety with the Retreat. Megan and Rosie are now looking for a new home so if you feel you could provide a loving, safe home for their remaining years please contact us.
Izzie
A small mare arrived suffering from a condition called Sarcoids that requires prompt treatment to prevent the lesions getting worse. The previous owner and rescue centre did not get Izzie's treated due to the costly procedure involved and as a result the lesions deteriorated badly. Izzie is now safely at the Retreat where she will get all the care she needs, including an operation to have the Sarcoids removed. The photo on the left shows one of the lesions (she has them on her leg and neck).
Connie
Retreat volunteers were contacted on Christmas day about a litter of puppies being given away in a pub in Thamesmead! Unfortunately when they arrived there was just one puppy left. She is a Rottie cross shepherd who has been named Connie. She is now safe at the Retreat.
New Dachshund arrival
This poor girl had been bred by her owners with a very big stud dog. Unbelievably, when she went into labour, they attempted to get one of her puppies out of her with knitting needles and this resulted in her being paralysed. Little Vi (as we have named her) is doing well with physio and hydro-pool.
Lemon and Cello
Two sheep were found wandering in a local graveyard. Volunteers from Willow Wildlife were called to rescue them and they then brought both sheep safely to the Retreat.
Shirley
Retreat volunteers were called to a sheep that had been attacked by dogs. Unfortunately, due to her injuries, Shirley had to have her front leg amputated, however she is doing really well at the Retreat on her three legs. Thanks go to Foxgrove vets in Beckenham who treated Shirley.
Chinchillas
Two little Chinchillas came to the Retreat when their owner was evicted to smaller accommodation. With their previous owner the two souls had lead lonely lives in separate cages but they now live happily together.
November 2007
The past few weeks have seen the usual arrival of rescued animals including 17 feral cats from a site in East London which is being redeveloped for the olympics. We have also seen the arrival of around 20 pigeons rescued from Trafalgar square that will be the first of many to live in our new aviary (see Latest News page). A few other examples of animals now at the Retreat are below:-
Chickens
A large number of brown hens, formally battery hens, were allowed to come to the Retreat to live out the remainder of their lives in safety.
Pumpkin
A local person heard a noise in her garden late at night, it turned out to be a piglet which she managed to corner and catch. she then called the RSPCA. The RSPCA were unable to help but they gave her the Retreats number. The lady called us and the beautiful piglet, which was about 6 weeks old, arrived soon after.
Goats
2 large white goats could no longer be kept by their owner as they kept escaping into the neighbours garden. To ensure their safety they were brought to us.
October 2007
In the last month we have seen over 50 animals/ birds arrive at the Retreat. Thankfully we have managed to re-home most of them and the rest will live with us permanently or until a good home is found. Four of the cases are below:-
Sherry
A farmer arrived with a very sick piglet, just 8 weeks old, her brothers and sisters had already been sent off to market for fattening and then slaughter. Sherry was the runt and had been living in the farmers kitchen with his dogs, living on dog biscuits. We immediately changed her diet and isolated her to give her time to rest and recuperate. Sherry is doing well and is hopefully on her way to a full recovery.
Tommy
When rescued Tommy the Lamb was just 6 weeks old. One of his rear legs was almost hanging off so he had to go for immediate surgery. The vet managed to save his life but had to amputate his leg.
Tilly
Tilly, a 7 year old Mastiff cross German Shepherd, came to the Retreat as he wasn't wanted any longer by either of his owners following their divorce. Tilly had not been sterilised, vaccinated or microchipped so was going to be a costly dog, additionally at his age it would have been difficult to find him a place anywhere else, so he came to us.
Mr Dartford the Pidgeon
Two Retreat volunteers came across this Bird in Dartford town centre whilst having a sneaky lunch break. He was amongst a group of pidgeons and was clearly ill. He was picked up and brought back to the Retreat where he is recovering well.
Madeline
The farmer was offering her to anyone who would take her. By the time we heard about her she had jumped the fence and was living in a field 'wild as the wind'. Poor Madeline had such bad Mastitis that her whole udder was hanging off. Between us we jumped her, piled her into the van and brought her home. Madeline required special help to see her through this extremely painful time, all due to over breeding year after year. It wasn't long before she had fully recovered, now without her entire udder.
This story has a beautiful ending because for years Madeline has had her babies stolen from her without anyone giving a damn. During her recovery we had up to eight lambs arrive at the Retreat which Madeline, without udder, adopted and loved. We know that these only replaced some of her stolen babies but eight babies who love her like their own mother can't be bad for starters.
Two of the above mentioned lambs, Cheeky and Tommy, were found stray wandering up a main road, no fields of sheep around, no gardens, nothing!
Nicky
A little spotty pony, about six years old. Late one night three of our volunteers were called out to a pony that had been abandoned; the volunteers managed to bring Nicky back to the Retreat. Despite his bad temperament and behaviour (which is probably why he had been abandoned) he his a lovely boy that just needs some time and patience before being re-homed.
Albert
A Cocker Spaniel is not a great fan of children, so he came to us. He and Docker the Cocker (who has been with us for a while) are now great mates.
Cooper
A pretty white and ginger male stray cat was taken to the vets by a cat group. When blood tested it was found he was FIV positive (cat AIDS), so unless a rescue that takes FIV cats could be found he would be killed. The Retreat took him in.
Cooper is a great boy, a little shy but coming around to be one of the family. AIDS or no AIDS we love them all. No picking, no choosing, JUST RESCUE.
Benji
We were contacted by somone who was concerned about a rabbit that lived with a family
in South East London. This caring person knew the owners of the animal and it was when he had been doing some work at their house that he saw the rabbit. The little boy was all by himself in an outside hutch with apparently no attention being given to him; nor did it appear that he was being fed either correctly or regularly. (The family were not interested in him (he had been bought for the children but they soon got bored with their new "toy") and didn't really want him.
Two Retreat volunteers immediately made arrangements with the concerned individual, and the family, and went to the home that evening. The hutch had hardly any bedding in it at all and the poor creatures claws were VERY long. The rabbit was brought away, along with the hutch, and went to a fosterer from where a new home would hopefully be found.
The rabbit was clearly stressed by what was happening and it wasn't certain that he would make it through the night. Thankfully he did and was obviously happy in his new surroundings (with plenty of bedding and food) as he was soon running around the fosterers garden and playing with his new toy. He has been checked by the vet (including being neutered) and appears to be ok, he has also had his claws cut.
Since this rescue the two volunteers have decided to give him a home themselves along with a new friend for him in the near future (another rescued rabbit).
Hare baby
While on a dog walk with 15 plus dogs (which is normally enough to keep your mind busy) Billy came across a tiny hairless creature, just moments from death from the elements. At first he thought he thought it was a baby rabbit. He was popped into a fleece pocket to generate some warmth and hopefully to show signs of a little more life. When arriving home Billy called the wildlife rescue team who collected the tiny creature and said that he was a Leveret (a baby hare).
The rescue team did a great job in rearing him and then he was released.