Willows Animal Sanctuary

Willows is being inundated by animals facing death because of the recession. These are desperate times for animals — the recession is not their fault! We would like to offer our heartfelt thanks to those of you who have sent donations, but we need our supporters to continue to send donations to help Willows make it through 2012.

Willows Animal Sanctuary is the largest 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 look after over 300 animals including around 60 horses, ponies and donkeys, approximately 60 cats and dogs and many reptiles as well as over 100 farm animals and birds. We are totally dependent on donations, legacies and grants from benevolent organizations to keep the sanctuary running.

We are entirely funded by public support and receive no government funding. Unlike larger charities we have no reserves of money and are desperately short of funds. We specialise in helping elderly or more vulnerable animals that have already been refused help by well known large national charities, but we can only continue to help needy animals with your support!

Willows helps many vulnerable people with its animal assisted 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.The therapeutic placements and corporate team building days include equine management, animal husbandry, therapeutic music sessions, drama, bushcraft and mediaeval re-enactment Please contact us if you would like more details..

'I am delighted to support Willows Animal Sanctuary once again in their fundraising campaign.

I am a regular visitor to the Sanctuary and I am very impressed by both the work that they do, and the dedication of their staff.

In addition to caring for the animals, Willows provides an extremely valuable therapeutic facility for the more vulnerable members of our community.'

Willows 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.

Pictured at left are Willows patrons Sandi Thom - the well known NE Scotland singer/songwriter and Michael Romeling - the internationally reknowned business coach.

They both give generously of their time and do a fantastic job for Willows.

Visit Sandi's web site. Our video of Sandi.

Visit Michael's web site. Michael appears in this Willows video about 9 minutes in.

A few months ago a neighbouring farmer asked if we would take a very wild cat that was causing havoc at his home. When he arrived the cat was extremely wild and attacked everyone!

After quiet and persistent care he has become a gorgeous and loving cat (although he cannot be picked up) When the neighbouring farmer dropped by he was utterly astonished at the changes in himt and had to come back with his wife so that she could confirm that it was indeed the same animal!

He has now almost doubled in size and has been named Chunky Monkey!!

In June 1999 Willows received an urgent phone call asking if we could provide a home for Lucky. Life had been fine for Lucky until his owner had agreed to place him on loan with someone who failed to take proper care of him. When his owner became aware of Lucky’s plight she took urgent action to take him back and find somewhere safe for him to live. More >