A TEESDALE animal welfare centre owner is having to relocate to smaller premises due to continuing health issues and is keen to find homes for some of the remaining animals prior to the move.
“I am waiting for operation number seven on my shoulder,” said Ms Pat Kingsnorth, who has run Ark on the Edge at Woolley Hill Farm, Woodland, for the past 16 years.
“The surgeon has said to me if I don’t stop what I’m doing it’s not going to get any better and there won’t be anything he can do for me.”
The Mercury reported in January that Ms Kingsnorth was worried about potential rent rises and her continuing health problems and has since has taken the decision to downsize when the lease on the farm comes to an end.
“To be fair to Raby Estates they did say we could talk about remaining, but I just can’t do all of it anymore,” she said this week.
Ark on the Edge will continue as a registered charity but on a much smaller scale, Ms Kingsnorth confirmed.
She and her partner Shaun Faulkner are moving to Woodland village, four miles away.
However instead of 40 acres they will only have one-and-a-half so new homes need to be found for the larger animals.
Ms Kingsnorth is particularly keen to find homes for the centre’s four goats – Wallace, Grommit, Tom and Jerry.
“They’re all castrated males and we thought we had somewhere set up for them, but it hasn’t worked out,” she said.
“Fortunately our foxes and birds of bred have found a new home,” she added.
A home check will be carried out and potential new owners will have to be in receipt of the correct holding numbers. “We’ll do as much as we can to provide support,” added Ms Kingsnorth.
She was also keen to stress the centre has lots of equipment which they need to clear, including two sets of cat chalets, a large fish tank and cat litter trays.
If anyone is interested in these items or providing homes for her goats you can get in touch on 01833 630505.
