Willows is Fighting to Survive!

We are sorry to say that we are once again in the same desperate financial situation we were in before Christmas 2009 and are currently surviving on a limited bank overdraft. We have been advised that there will be an enormous increase in the cost of hay and feed this winter so in order to keep our doors open we need to raise £30,000 to cover our winter feed bill.

Willows is the largest animal sanctuary in Aberdeenshire and will try to help any animal in distress. We operate a strict no kill policy and only euthanise an animal on veterinary advice. We are entirely funded by public support and receive no government funding. Unlike larger charities we have no reserves of money, indeed we are often reliant on a bank overdraft. If you are able, please, please make a donation. Willows also helps vulnerable people with its animal  assisited therapy programme. The concept of allowing rescued animals to help vulnerable people on the road back to health is very innovative and has been independently evaluated and shown to be highly beneficial.

Willows is holding a late summer Open Day on Saturday 18th September from 11am to 3.45pm. Please come along and help us to raise funds for the sanctuary.

Click here to see the work we do and some of the thousands of animals, birds and reptiles we have helped.

The Story of Willows Animal Sanctuary

Willows Animal Sanctuary has been rescuing animals from distressing situations since 1989. It all began with an Arab horse called Willow (we named our sanctuary after her) who we learned had been left tethered in the wind and rain and suffering from mud fever for a long time. One day she became entangled in her tether and was slowly choking until a vigilant passer-by intervened and called out the RSPCA. Her owner was prosecuted and eventually Willow came to us.

Hearing about what had happened to Willow made us aware of the enormous suffering that can befall animals and we set about making a safe place for unwanted or abused animals to live out the rest of their lives. In 1999 Willows became a recognised Scottish Charity and began to specialise in accepting animals that had been rejected by other charities as being unsuitable for re-homing. Willows now provides a “last chance sanctuary” and most of the animals here would not be around today if Willows did not exist. We at Willows act as a lifeline for needy animals and offer them safety, rehabilitation and re-home those that are suitable. Willows offers dedicated care to abandoned and ill-treated domestic and farm animals.

We look after over 300 animals including more than 50 horses, ponies and donkeys, approximately 50 cats and many rabbits, poultry and reptiles as well as over 100 farm animals and birds. It costs over £10,000 per month to run the sanctuary and we are totally dependent on donations, legacies and grants from benevolent organistions to keep the sanctuary and the animal assisted therapy unit running. 

Over the last twelve years Willows has faced the most amazing adversity but we have made it through because of the determination of our staff and volunteers and the generosity of our wonderful supporters. Indeed without such help we would have been unable to continue helping so many animals and people!

'I have nothing to fear and here my story ends my troubles are over and I am home.'
Last lines of Black Beauty by Anna Sewell

The animal assisted therapy unit at Willows

Willows Video Diary for 2009

These YouTube videos will show you many of the animals we look after and will give you a good idea of the work that we do on a daily basis. You will also see the sanctuary and the changing seasons during 2009.