AN animal rescue centre brought to its knees by covid lockdowns and a bird flu outbreak has unveiled ambitious plans to raise £85,000 to develop facilities at its new site.
Wetheriggs Animal Rescue and Conservation Centre, which used to be based at Thorpe Farm, is re-establishing itself in a field at Ravensworth.
Through a generous donation, five paddocks with shelters have been built to house the many animals that were brought over from the previous site.
Head keeper Kitty Belle said: “We’ve got goats, alpacas, miniature donkeys, ferrets, rabbits, ducks, guinea pigs and chickens.”
The centre is also rebuilding its facilities for an exotic birds collection and is now home to a conure parrot.
It reopened to the public earlier this month, but visits are by booking only because of the limited parking.
Ms Belle said: “We are doing it on donations only because we have limited facilities – we have no electric and there is no running water.”
Water for the animals is collected from a nearby stream.
Despite the limited facilities, the centre is enjoying support and is slowly improving what is available.
The keeper said: “We have great donations coming in. Last week we had someone donate a £1,500 generator. Just a little one but brand new.”
Rescuing wild animals remains at core of the centre and its volunteers, and earlier this month a tawny owl with a broken wing was brought in.
Ms Belle said: “When he came in, to be honest, I thought he was gone. He still had a little bit in him, but I looked at his wing and I thought nah.”
However, after being warmly wrapped the bird perked up and was taken to local vets to have the wing reset.
Among the plans for the centre, as part of its fundraising drive, is to build an aviary for injured owls to be nursed back to health and released back into the wild.
There are also plans for new enclosures for birds and an education centre.
A bold ambition is for the centre to have its own veterinary clinic where not only can rescued animals be treated, but services can be privately offered for those who cannot afford to have their pets treated elsewhere.
Ms Belle said: “You name it, we want to build it, eventually we want to have a café.”
The centre is open daily from 10am to 3pm and people can book a visit by ringing 01833 617444.
Anyone who would like to contribute towards the fundraising campaign can visit gofund.me/43f3d2af.
