Foal Farm's Pet Shop

A belated Happy New Year to you all.

Many of you will know that the Pet Shop has not yet re-opened after Christmas and the New Year. This is because it is undergoing essential works. If you have ever been a customer of The Pet Shop in the winter, you will know that it can be bitterly cold. Also, in the summer, it is very hot because there is at present no insulation on the bare boards that form the three outside walls. The plan is to put plastic sheeting along the long wall, wait for the wall to dry out and then put in insulation and board that over.
This unfortunately will take a little while. We plan to still have our popular donated goods,bird food etc outside on Rummage Sale Day ( January 30th) but cannot re-open until the work has been completed.
We are really sorry but this work is essential.

Thank you all for your custom in 2010 and we look forward to seeing you soon.

Best Wishes

Liz, Anne ,Pat and Chriss

RIP Neggie

It is with a heavy heart and tear-filled eyes that we must report the passing of one of our oldest friends and most long term resident animals.

Neggie the ‘King’ of donkeys was sadly put to sleep last Tuesday 11th January. He was 46 years old, making him one of the oldest donkeys in the country. He would have been resident at Foal Farm for 30 years this year, arriving at the sanctuary in September 1981 after being abandoned by his previous keepers in Edenbridge. Old age finally crept up on him and his body gave up, though his mind was still strong. It will forever stand as the most difficult decision I have ever made to let the ‘Old Man’ go, but it was the right time for him. He died peacefully and with dignity.

He was one of the most remarkable animals I have ever met, and this planet will not live long enough to see his equal walk upon its ground. He was an intelligent, mischievous rogue who had a spirit that was never truly tamed. He bit, he kicked, he barged, he made you cry, and he jumped out on you in the dark like some long eared phantom. But he also inspired many a fond story, made you smile and laugh until tears of joy rolled down your cheeks, ‘sang’ to the music played in the stable yard and was even known to give a baritone accompaniment to the tin whistle or mouth organ. To win Neggie’s friendship was to work very, very hard to earn his respect which was quite the opposite in reverse; he commanded respect with ease by his very presence. If you were stood in the same field that he was in you always, instinctively, knew where he was.

Foal Farm has been the operational base of the Friends Of Animals League charity for nearly 49 years and Neggie had been an integral part of this for nearly 30 of them. He has been a constant, part of the heart of what we do, and a thread that can link so many people together with recollections and anecdotes of their experiences with him. Please, if any of you have stories to tell or pictures to share, don’t hesitate to let us all know. Let us commemorate his life by never forgetting him and remembering what a huge privilege it was to have shared time with him. You will be sadly missed my old friend.

Long live the King.

Farewell Cherry Cat

Cherry came to Foal Farm in 1996 as a feral cat who was straying in the local golf course. She decided to have her kittens in the warmth of our kitchen that year and once she was spayed she was released on to the farm. She always avoided human contact but would return to the kitchen when the public were gone to have her supper. For the last couple of years she would spend most of her time in the kitchen, especially when it was chilly and spend that time with another kitchen cat called Ella, who we have also recently lost. Cherry always looked a little scruffy and had very poor eyesight, but she was a sweet old lady. She was approximately 16-17 years of age and passed away peacefully in her sleep on Monday 20 December 2010 to join her friend Ella. RIP Cherry xxx.

Farewell Sefton

It is with heavy hearts and tearful eyes that we must report the death of another of our long term friends at Foal Farm.

Sefton, our dear little Shetland pony was put to sleep late afternoon on Thursday 16th December. He had been suffering with arthritis for several years, managed with pain killers under veterinary advice. However, the problem progressed to the point where the painkillers were no longer working and our only option was to let him go and release him from his constant pain.

Sefton arrived at Foal Farm in 1996 with his friend Dixie (who sadly passed away several years ago), after being left abandoned in a field when his owners moved house. From that irresponsible and uncaring home he ended up with us and received nothing but the most sincere love and care for the rest of his days. He has been a favourite with many of the staff over the years, past and present, and will be sorely missed by all that knew him.

Making these types of decisions for our beloved animal friends will never become easy, but we have to always put the welfare needs of the animals first and foremost, way above our personal attachments. It is hard, but it is what we have to do.

Safe journey Sefton, you are free from pain now. xxx

Farewell Ella Cat

It is with regret that we must inform you that we lost Ella cat on 6th December 2010.

She arrived at Foal Farm in 1998. Ella was on expensive veterinary treatment for liver damage which her owners could not afford.

Ella was a clever cat! She lived in the kitchen and we can tell you many a dog was cat tested with her and they quickly learnt never to cross a cat again!

Ella had health problems right from the start and we nearly lost her a couple of times. On top of her liver problems she also had kidney problems and needed an injection once a month. This was where she used her cleverness. On the day that the vet would arrive she literally disappeared first thing in the morning and would reappear half and hour after he had gone - every time!

In the end we used to catch her the day before and put her in an FIB room. The vet would arrive, jab her and she would spit, growl, swear, turn up her nose and walk out clearly planning her escape the following month!

Ella mellowed with age. We all loved her and laughed at her antics.

She was found in the kitchen on the morning of 6th December 2010, after passing away in the early hours. She was about 18 years old.

RIP Ella - you will be sadly missed xxx

Farewell Piggywiggy

It is with regret that we must inform you that we lost Piggywiggy the pig. She was put to sleep last night after collapsing and developing a very low temperature. She was about 14 years old and very arthritic.

Piggywiggy arrived at Foal Farm in February 1997 after being found stray on a farm in Hawkhurst.

RIP Piggywiggy, you will be sadly missed xx

Severe weather hits Foal Farm!

Thank you to everyone who has offered us help and support in any way - it is greatly appreciated!

Thought we would share some of our winter photo's with you all.

For more photos