SCORES of rescue animals face being put down following the shock news that the area's biggest animal sanctuary could close as cash runs out.
Animal lovers have been left reeling by the bombshell that Thornberry Animal Sanctuary, South Anston, could finally close within a month in the wake of the biggest financial crisis in its 17-year history.
Steve Bamford (47), the man who sold his home and lived in a cramped caravan to follow his dream of setting up the sanctuary wept as he said: "We are facing the unthinkable.
"After all the hard work, It could be all over. But if any animals have to be put down, no one here will do it. "The council will have to sort that out. We have been left to do much of their work, but we have received little help."
And management committee member Sue McNeela added: "This is not just a scare story. The staff have been told of the crisis situation this week and we are all devastated."
Public donations which the sanctuary relies on to survive have dropped alarmingly this year—partly due to the tsunami appeal which has sucked millions of pounds out of the charity pot.
Steve added: "This sanctuary has become a dumping ground for animals, but we have never turned any away. I'm proud of that.
"Now I pray that something will happen so that I can be left to get on with the work I love—caring for the animals."


Source: The Advertiser (http://www.rotherhamadvertiser.co.uk/html/news/fp.asp?id=4962)

I hope they manage to find funding from somewhere. They are the place i recommend to either adopt pets or where i phone if i find a stray.

Good luck Thornberry!!

Well.......

What if we stuck our hands in our pockets?

I'll kick things off with a fiver - it would be cool to send them some funds. If 1% of us chipped in with a fiver each, that would be 600 quid. Not a fortune, but nice.

I'm also a Trustee of another animal welfare charity here in Sheffield, and will ask my fellow trustees whether there's anything we can do.

Thanks, Don!

Joe

I've asked them if they can set up a Paypal account.

I'm sure there are many like me who would donate through Paypal but can't be bothered to go - or can't get - to the bank to make a donation.

Alchresearch - does thornbury have a URL?

Or should I google for it? :)

Joe

There's a post in the WANTED section by Don!

http://www.sheffieldforum.co.uk/showthread.php?s=&threadid=51764

well i,ll be donating and asking all freinds to do the same so as mentioned above if most of the forumers donate a little and encourage their friends to do the same maybe we can help save it for now:thumbsup:

Let us know about the paypal account.

Originally posted by alchresearch
There's a post in the WANTED section by Don!

http://www.sheffieldforum.co.uk/showthread.php?s=&threadid=51764
I'm sure I reported that for a merge.
If I'd been PMed 'no' then I'd have posted the details here too :roll:

Originally posted by JoeP
Alchresearch - does thornbury have a URL?

Or should I google for it? :)

Joe
Joe or anyone else, go to http://www.thornberry-animal-sanctuary.org/. There is also a page with a donation form (http://www.thornberry-animal-sanctuary.org/donation_form.htm) on it, I don't know if a Paypal appeal would work better or not (especially given the Paypal fees they would face)...

Three of my cats were rescued by Thornberry Animal Sanctuary, they would most probably have died if they had not been helped by Thornberry

Does anyone want to meet up this weekend to put our heads together and get them some major money?

Any ideas.

Pm or reply if you want to meet up and do something to help them? If there are enough of us then surely something can happen.

I've made a donation and would encourage all forum members to do the same. We can't let this happen and I agree with Ollie that we should get together and collect some serious cash.

Ollie - might be worth arranging a collection at the next Forum meet on Sunday. Should be able to get a bit of cash then I reckon.

This link may be of use as it is not only cash that is needed,although cash may be the immediate concern.
http://www.thornberry-animal-sanctuary.org/help_us.php?PHPSESSID=7f875357efaadd5c3e25b47e64c0 e543

Originally posted by JoeP
Well.......

What if we stuck our hands in our pockets?

I'll kick things off with a fiver - it would be cool to send them some funds. If 1% of us chipped in with a fiver each, that would be 600 quid. Not a fortune, but nice.

I'm also a Trustee of another animal welfare charity here in Sheffield, and will ask my fellow trustees whether there's anything we can do.

Thanks, Don!

Joe
Great Idea Joe, I've got a crisp fiver here too for them. We always take our jumble & bric-a-brac there as they have regular sales on site.

I once had a fantastic German Shep (pedigree) puppy from them - an absoloutley fantastic dog.



The son of a friend does voluntary work for them - he loves it.

Thanks everyone. :thumbsup:

Does anyone know how to get to the sanctuary without a car? I've been on their website and i would like to offer some of my time dog walking aswell as some of my money but i don't have a car to get there. Anyone know what buses go there either from town or from Hollinsend area?

Originally posted by jen229
Does anyone know how to get to the sanctuary without a car? I've been on their website and i would like to offer some of my time dog walking aswell as some of my money but i don't have a car to get there. Anyone know what buses go there either from town or from Hollinsend area?

I think you need the 23 service from the Interchange Jen. Leaves hourly

I'm going to drop by Thornberry tomorrow and will make a dontation.

If anyone has any good ideas about fundraising, count me in. :thumbsup:

http://www.thornberry-animal-sanctuary.org/donations.php


Just made an extra donation.

They helped my much loved cat when he got run over and (sadly) died. When i finally traced him to having been taken there, the lady who saw to him was so kind. He's buried in the field at the back that they have there.

They are good people up there who deserve the financial help of those of us who are too lazy or genuinely don't have the time to physically help. Or in my case, I'd just spend my time getting upset so not very helpful at all.

Keep this topic at the top of the forum so everyone reads it and digs in!

I am so sorry to hear of the financial problems being experienced by this worthy Sanctuary. Please can someone come up with some means of raising the required cash. Whatever----car-boot,fair,raffles anything. Keep this thread going and please keep any news up to date. I have loads of items that might help at a Car -boot. What kind of items do Thornberry want. Ideas man wanted.

We called up there today and it was quite busy. They had their usual Sunday Jumble sale on and a few people were making donations.

They also have a horse and foal (the foal was born on 23 July) it is sooo tiny!

Why not call up and make a donation?

<effervescent>


<effervescent>


<effervescent>

yep thats right they are only animals but then again so are we and most of them will be more sociable than a lot of people today
theres alot we could learn from the animal kingdom (who ever heard of a monkey suicide bomber :D

Just bumping this back up to the top

StarSparkle

I work as a volunteer for thornberry and yes we are DESPERATE. Please give whatever you can !!!

I will definitely make a donation immediately. I adopted my fab cat from there (based on him being too big & scruffy for anyone else to want him!). He had been there absolutley ages & other sanctuaries may have been tempted to put him to sleep.

Just an idea...

Would there be much interest in a sponsored sporting tournament of some description, say rounders... with each team raising sponsorship for entry, get some prizes donated etc..if theres enough interest from here and around the region, then a venue etc could be sorted.

I know of a few places, and also a number of people that would be willing to enter teams.

Any thoughts ?

Scott & Laura

Originally posted by steelhead31
Just an idea...

Would there be much interest in a sponsored sporting tournament of some description, say rounders... with each team raising sponsorship for entry, get some prizes donated etc..if theres enough interest from here and around the region, then a venue etc could be sorted.

I know of a few places, and also a number of people that would be willing to enter teams.

Any thoughts ?

Scott & Laura

Sounds good to me !!!
Ok so what do I need to do ?

Are there any companies out there that can help with funding???? see link below.....

dinningtontoday.co.uk/ViewArticle2.aspx?SectionID=775&ArticleID=1099173

just checked the website thornberry do have a pay pal account page https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr and you cann do the whole switch and visa thing as well here.

Good to see everyone trying to help, when you read some of the cases that the sanctuary and other units take in you start to wonder how people cann do some of the things they do to animals, good luck to them at gettingt some fund raising.

Lets hope the media pick up on this thread and give it some more exposure.

I just donated online... they do some sterling work.

I would just like to point out how much of a fuss has been made over this yes the samaritons calling out for help was practically ignored

that worries me somewhat

animals can't phone for help.
animals don't put themselves in situations that they can't get out from.

rather simplistic i know but that is why a lot of people do support animal sanctuaries.

Hi

I can't believe this, it is really bad My daughter and her friend are currently involved in the Lifestyle project and their chosen project is Thornberry. They have collected dog and cat food plus bedding etc through collection points in their school and took it up to thornberry plus they are going to help at the sanctuary whenever they can. We live in the S13 area so if anyone isn't too far away and would like to help us help Thornberry by donating anything from food and bedding to items they can sell at the jumble that would be great (we will take it up there). If not why not visit the sanctuary and donate whatever you can. I know they have collection points in some shops too but the only one I have seen is at Morrisons Catcliffe.

Thanks

we as a family have supported thornberry since before they had the rebuild done & still do with donations,jumble goods etc.even can rattlers for donations.
i offered them an opportunity to develop "bequests" as the PDSA do & unfortunatley got little support.
the idea was i would pay a % of profit for any supporter who used our estate planning services (wills). When the wills are written a donation to the charity would be included which would guarantee further support after death as it were.
i was even willing to do all the suporter contact in their name at my expense but at the time they weren't interested.

surely minimum £10 donation everytime i wrote a couples will's would have been helpful.

Just a thought. Has anyone notified I.T.V of this plight? A dog sanctuary at Leeds seems to have a similar problem recently and has been on Television several times , giving great publicity and probably gaining valuable help. worth a try, surely.

That's sad new in my opinion.

does no one see the huge hypocrisy here?!


ARGH


I don't know why this is making me so angry but seriously, priorities seem a little skewed

Carl,

If you want to help the Samaritans - and spelling their name correctly will help - then do so.

If people wish to do soemthing for animal welfare, they can do.

This is a thread for a particular cause and not for you to debate the pros and cons of different charities.

Joe

Donated a tenner, not much I know but I have visited the web site :sad: now the mascarra is all over my face I am going to sponser a pet. I work full time so it would be difficult to own a dog, I have often seen adverts on TV and was always going to do this but never did, this is the kick up the rear I needed.

Thought Id better bump this one back up again.

Pass the sanctuary quite a lot as I live out this way and I will try and get some of my stuff that I keep lugging out to Car Boots when i can get to the sanctuary and let them sell it and gain the benefit.

Did anyone get this raised on the local press or national press as was suggested earlier. ??

Thanks for the bump, tazman....

However, I excercised a little 'Mod Power' and so this thread should stick around at the top of the General Sheffield Chat postings list. And if it doesn't then I've lost my Moderatorial Mojo. :)

Joe

Its the first i hear of this and glad i seen it,My family love this sanctuary that they gave homes to animals from there.and always donate stuff for money and donate food every xmas time to them.I know my mum not said anything about this so im sure she does not know or i would hear something about it by now.but i gave a donation to them now and hope they get the funds they need.as it is a loverly place this and so careing.

I work for various fund raising agencies and about 3 years ago Thornberry was chosen as a project. All they did was pay lip service to me and the money raising project ended up a complete fiasco, due to them.

If that was and still is their attitude, then I am not surprised at the outcome.

They need to get someone in to kick some ass. Then it may survive.

Does anyone know if there are any posters or other publicity material I could get my mitts on? If so, then I would be more than happy to paste these around the office to make as many people aware of this problem as possible in the hope of raising more funds.

It is tragic that the animals are facing an uncertain future which is highly unnecessary. You see, what the PR blurb doesn't tell you is that Thornberry already had a fully functioning horse sanctuary before splashing out on Silverthorpe Farm and several Committee members resigned over the decision to plunge the sanctuary into debt.

During Thornberry's existence there have always been tragedies and world famine and other charitable causes yet Thornberry thrived. Is it a coincidence that the tsunami appeal coincided with them struggling to pay for Silverthorpe Farm?

If the animals face being put to sleep within a month, didn't these animal lovers think it might be an idea to sell off its latest asset before it got that serious?

I suggest that any forum member, before getting invloved in the Gung Ho attitude, goes and examines the books. I suggest you let them take there own course instead of throwing good money after bad.

Under disclosure of information act anybody can ask to see the accounts.

Then decide.

Whatever the various ins and financial outs, it remains that Sheffield is a better place with the sanctuary than without. People need to be emailing as many peole as they know to donate & buttering up any nice jovial looking businessman/woman to sponsor the place. Thornberry people are animal lovers not accountants.

My husband spent yesterday trying to get hrough to them on the phone to offer help but there wasn't any answer. In desperate times someone should be there to answer the phone . I heard something about their plight been featured on local tv last week, did anyone see it?

Originally posted by squeakyclean
My husband spent yesterday trying to get hrough to them on the phone to offer help but there wasn't any answer. In desperate times someone should be there to answer the phone . I heard something about their plight been featured on local tv last week, did anyone see it?

They are there !!! The phones take 2nd place to an animal needing attention or a prospetive adopter.

Please keep trying or PM me directll.

Lindsey

may not be able to afford someone answering the phone at present.....
Could Hubby be persuaded to visit in person?

I think he will try again today from work.

I'ma trustee of another animal welfare charity here in Sheffield, and am vaguely aware of the financial issues around Thornberry.

I don't like the idea of animals dying due to human fallibility.

I've sent them some dosh and I'm sure that when the crisis is over they'll have time to review their finances in a controlled manner.

If there is financial mismanagement involved, then the time to deal with that is at the AGM of the organisation, not when the crap's hitting the fan.

Joe

apologies JoeP, it was not in any way a dig at animal sanctuaries, it just upsets me slightly, tis all

Further additions to press releases,
A GLIMMER of hope hung over a threatened animal sanctuary this week—but with it came a return of the insidious whispering campaign which has dogged staff for months.
Following last week's shock news that Thornberry Animal Sanctuary at South Anston could close in a month because of its worst cash crisis in 17 years, big hearted supporters dug deep into their pockets.
They were horrified to learn that dozens of rescue animals could face being put down.
But as their donations and promises of help came in, so did renewed accusations of mismanagement and reckless spending—which angry sanctuary officials flatly denied this week.


From The Advertiser (today 5/8/5) (http://www.rotherhamadvertiser.co.uk/html/news/fp.asp?id=4989)

The additional 180k spent on buying extra land at Ravenfield hasn't been mentioned. Add on the expense of the work that needs to be done and it probably does add up to the cool million. I haven't written to the Advertiser btw but I might now.

Necessary expenditure for the sake of animal welfare? Not in my opinion!

In my experience an AGM is an open meeting for interested parties to attend. On 12 July the AGM was held as a closed meeting for the trustees to elect themselves back in. Hmmm!

If public donations are directed to the animals, hey count me in! How much do you want?

Originally posted by Fishpole
On 12 July the AGM was held as a closed meeting for the trustees to elect themselves back in. Hmmm!



Codswallop

Lindsay, you obviously didn't hear about the AGM because you weren't supposed to.

Originally posted by Fishpole
Lindsay, you obviously didn't hear about the AGM because you weren't supposed to.


Funny that - I was there my lovely

I'm sorry Lindsey - I stand corrected. I'm pleased that a volunteer has been able to have their say. Who put themselves forward for positions on the Committee and how did the vote go?

There is a raffle in asda at Handsworth with all proceeds going to thrornberry.

I have to agree with fishpole on this one.

I worked as a volunteer for 3 years during the late 90's and all i can say is there are too many with their fingers in the pot!

I put a lot of time and money into that palce untill i found out what truly was going on behind closed doors and i said they will never get another penny out of me and i will stick to that.

I bet most of you dont know that when we had the foot&mouth problem no one could move animals around and farmers had to leave lambs in fields to drown while that place moved animals around like they where immuned risking local farmers livelyhoods without any concern for others, and it wasnt dogs they moved it was animals that could carry the illness. The animals they have there had more chance of being carriers because of all the visitors they got but they didnt give a hoot.

Chances are they do have enough money to keep the place running its just that a lot of it never sees the account books. If they are squealing now then its possible that they just want to get back in the limelight after the tsunami.

I know very little about the place other than what I've been told around the village. (we dont live too far away)

On more than one occasion I have been advized that if I want to donate, I should do it by going to Morrisons, buying some pet food and putting it in one of thier box's near the till's rather than giving a donation in cash.

I know they do some very good and noble work down there, but I'm always a little wary after hearing so many rumors.

In the back of my mind though,I hope they are just that...rumors.

Hi do anyone know if the sanctuary is still open on saturday and sunday? I want to adopt a kitten if they got any.. also want to help out, do you know if they'll accept anything to sell? or is it just animal stuff that they want? (I've got a lot of clothes... if that would help!)

Thanks
Krystal

This is one good cause that deserves all our backing,is it not possible to get some lottery funding or something along those lines.
We as a country seem to find money for all the wrong causes maybe its time we looked at other causes .
I hope something can be done for the animals,they dont deserve the fate that awaits them.

Hiya Krystal, they were open last weekend. Usually close at 3.00.

I'm sure they'd welcome some help with dog walking etc.

They also hold regular jumble sales (most weekends I think) and will accept anything clean and sale-able. Obviously they also appreciate bedding etc they can use for the dogs and cats along with any donations of dog/cat food.

Originally posted by Carl_Malibu
I would just like to point out how much of a fuss has been made over this yes the samaritons calling out for help was practically ignored

that worries me somewhat

Originally posted by JoeP
Carl,

If you want to help the Samaritans - and spelling their name correctly will help - then do so.

If people wish to do soemthing for animal welfare, they can do.

This is a thread for a particular cause and not for you to debate the pros and cons of different charities.

Joe

But Joe, only you decided it was a thread about a particular cause. As a trustee of an animal charity, surely your opinion is swayed by your interests in animal welfare? Isn't your bias showing somewhat?

I think that Carl_Malibu has a very valid point when he expresses disquiet about the lengths we are prepared to go to over animals, and yet we do not seem to place similar concerns on human lives.

In addition, I am also concerned that in the apparent headlong rush to raise cash for this animal welfare - the decisions of the trustees to purchase land, and apparently venture into other financial agreements, are being dismissed with a wave of the hand - and a suggestion that this can all be examined at the AGM.

I think some hard questions need asking now, at least to avoid folk potentially throwing good money after good money. Maybe sob stories of the animals being put down, and a weeping, praying manager, is just what is needed to trigger a wholesale rush to save the animals and bring in a flood of donations. Yet maybe this animal charity should close, and alternative homes found for the animals? Are we seriously being led to believe that there is no alternative than to have the animals put down?

In a less emotionally-charged atmosphere and headlong rush to raise funds, maybe a clearer head would start asking pertinent questions. Questions such as - why aren't other animal charities in danger of folding? Why just this one? The tsunami appeal was six months ago - are we seriously being led to believe that it is still having an effect on donations to this one animal charity?

the threat of closure happens every year & yet the committee never seem to do anything different to provide long term support.
likewise the Millhouses sanctuary are also struggling for help, they were actually on tv a short while ago - they are perhaps more worthy than Thornberry 'cos the older is still funding the costs personallyy with some public donations.

i hope for the sake of the animals that some thing is sorted verry soon

can't u try to get this on Look North or something, some benefactor may cough up to keep it going?

Originally posted by Don_Kiddick
Source: The Advertiser (http://www.rotherhamadvertiser.co.uk/html/news/fp.asp?id=4962)

I've donated my £5.00 via paypal.
My daughter helps out there occassionally, dog walking, cleaning out etc. She done her work experience from school there too.
I've also took stray animals there in the past, and they've never turned any away.

We often visit the sanctuary, buy stuff from them and donate stuff to them in return. Its a really great place and the staff deserve a lot of praise.

If you use supermarkets in Dinnington you'll see hundreds of tins of food donated by shoppers placed in big boxes in Tesco and the Co-Op.

But I can't help thinking that the Tsunami appeal and children starving to death in Niger is a far more worthy cause than the sanctuary.

I love animals and hate to see them suffer but at the end of the day they are animals. Human children are suffering far more.

Funding will surely get even worse for the santuary once BlueBell Wood childrens hospice is being built a few hundreds metres away as it is very high profile.

We ('the family') have donated pet food, jumble and have done the dog walking and will continue to help out whenever we can to help the animals. Although I have been very disappointed with the response from the workers/volunteers there. Don't get me wrong I'm sure they too have the animals best welfare at heart but the ones I've come across are offhand to say the least. When I went along to help with dog walking I was made to feel I was more a hinderance than a help. I own two dogs of my own so feel I'm quite a competent handler but was treated like a 4 year old. The first time I took in pet food and jumble I stood waiting 20 minutes or so for someone to give me an idea where to leave the stuff. Having never been before how are you supposed to know? Now I do, I drop it off and leave. Rarely is there any acknowledgement. I'm not doing it for the thanks but a bit of courtesy there would be nice. Having said all of that...and this being my first post, is quite a lot... I think as a whole they do a terrific job for the animals which obviously is priority. :thumbsup:

put them in dons allottment then

i got my doggie from there , hes an angel cost me £100 though and at that price , i thought that the amount of animals they put out for adoption would cover their costs? ill ring them see what i can do ...

Hi, Get into the big stores, ask them if you can place a large box with an appeal on it. Donate a can of food for strays etc, put on the name of your charity. It works wonders in M/C. All the large supermarkets here are generous and even donate cases of food now and again. Surprising how many people will buy an extra can to help out. I'm sure you will find some supermarkets not too far away. Are there still any private abbatoirs around, they may help out with some goodies now and again. there was one in Retford, not sure if its still there. Also try the butchers dept in supermarkets, they maybe have some meat ends or even a few bones to keep them happy. Good luck.

Sounds quite bad here. I hope that the animals are looked after as a priority.

I agree that we all should try and help the animal sanctuary in its current crisis, the only thing that can help them is MONEY, so please if you haven't chipped in yet please will you do so, i have just sent them a small donation of £15 and will be sending them more soon.

My daughter is running a fund raising morning at her place of work; I think it's CS2 lawyer in Chesterfield on the first Friday in September. She and a few mates will be selling cakes they have made. She's only 17yrs old and has organised it herself.

We got our dog Jenny from Thornberry 10 years ago. We were really impressed with the quality of care they give to their animals and I have donated food, toys and money every Christmas. I've just donated my tenner using Paypal. I hope the money keeps poring in for them.

Glad I spotted this thread, I've used paypal to send a donation. I've had a few animals from there myself in the past. What a terrible shame if it was to close, what of all the animals that are there already?. Hope something can be done.

I volunteer at the Sheffield Cats Shelter, and we would definitely be sad to see Thornberry go. This year will be tough for all of the small local animal charities (us included) as we all strain to take up the hole left by the RSPCA on Spring Street closing.

Our response includes opening to the public every day rather than just at weekends and adapting our rooms for higher occupancy.

A response to the earlier comment about the high adoption fees at Thornberry- HAVE YOU SEEN THE COST OF VET'S BILLS THESE DAYS? Our adoption fees are £50 per cat, and that has to cover £35 in vaccinations, £40 in spaying or neutering costs plus other vets fees, then for a kitten up to 15 weeks' worth of food, cat litter and the like. The average for a kitten born in the Shelter runs way over £100, but we charge £50 because we know that people will refuse to put their hands in their pockets for more, even though we effectively offer a 50% reduction in all the basic vets bills.

That means that for every cat we home we run at a deficit and have to raise the funds to pay for that cat's care in another way. We also regularly have cats for whom the vet bill amounts to over £500 in their stay. Multiply all of this by nearly 300 cats a year and you can see that anybody worrying about 'covering the costs' simply doesn't understand the relevant costs that have to be covered.

Sorry if this seems like a rant, but believe me, any charity in this area will be able to show truly scary costs associated with animal work.

latest

Dinnington Trader (http://www.dinningtontoday.co.uk)

Worksop Guardian (http://www.worksoptoday.co.uk/ViewArticle2.aspx?SectionID=741&ArticleID=1134443)
There are 5 full pages in the newspaper

Originally posted by Tinkerbelle
latest

Dinnington Trader (http://www.dinningtontoday.co.uk)

Worksop Guardian (http://www.worksoptoday.co.uk/ViewArticle2.aspx?SectionID=741&ArticleID=1134443)
There are 5 full pages in the newspaper

ALL charities have people who cream off the top for themselves.

They're usually known as directors, like Princess Anne, Jane Asher et al.

I feel that for the work Steve has put in to Thornberry, living in rent free accomm is not much to ask as it is his 24/7 concern.

The house is not 'his' and if he died tomorrow his family would not get it to share up the profits.

Maybe a few bitter folk trying to kick up some **** for him?

I'll still donate at my usual rate. :confused: ;)

:clap: :clap: I've always supported Thornberry, got a lovely dog from there and two great guinea pigs recently.
Can't believe how cruel people can be, leaving animals at the gate. They have no guts to walk in and admit what they've done...scum bags!
I would love to adopt a horse but apharently they don't do this with the bigger animals.

Have heard they have now got an on-line donation thing where you can give via pay-pal.

Good luck Thornberry, your in my will anyway.

Originally posted by Don_Kiddick
ALL charities have people who cream off the top for themselves.

They're usually known as directors, like Princess Anne, Jane Asher et al.

I feel that for the work Steve has put in to Thornberry, living in rent free accomm is not much to ask as it is his 24/7 concern.

The house is not 'his' and if he died tomorrow his family would not get it to share up the profits.

Maybe a few bitter folk trying to kick up some **** for him?

I'll still donate at my usual rate. :confused: ;)

The people that donate to Thornberry do so in the belief that they are helping animals, not that they are providing a nice home for the man who started it. I take my hat off to him for giving up his home and living in a caravan for several years but Thornberry has moved on in the last 17 years and so has the founder’s fortune. He has a private home aside from the homes he could choose from at the main sanctuary, Birks Farm or Silverthorpe Farm.

I wholeheartedly support Thornberry and everything it stands for and desperately hope that it will survive this scandal. However, I am one of many that disagrees with the sale of a farm that had everything to care for the larger animals for it to be replaced by a fashionable house but with derelict premises that doesn’t even come close to addressing the needs of those animals. There is massive expenditure yet to be incurred to equal what it already owned.

Thornberry had a paid up 44 acre property with house, stables, barns, a school etc which has been sacrificed for a 750k farmhouse and 17 acres plus the 180k spent on the extra land to bump it up equal to Birks Farm and hence the massive debt.

Bitter?! Absolutely! Because as an animal lover, it goes against the grain that public donations aren’t heading in the direction they were intended. I’d rather have seen the ¾ million spent on the animals!

Originally posted by bigredbox
I would love to adopt a horse but apharently they don't do this with the bigger animals.[/B]

What made you think that bigredbox? Every sanctuary is looking for homes for animals no matter how big they are. Perhaps Thornberry didn't have a suitable horse for you but don't give up - there are lots of rescue horses looking for experienced homes.

Originally posted by Fishpole
What made you think that bigredbox? Every sanctuary is looking for homes for animals no matter how big they are. Perhaps Thornberry didn't have a suitable horse for you but don't give up - there are lots of rescue horses looking for experienced homes.

there are lots of horses but unfortunatley getting one that is suited is harder. we tried for years from thornberry,ilph, redwings etc with no success. yep we could have rescued a dartmoor pony or a donkey but unfortunately most folks don't want that type.

Originally posted by willman
there are lots of horses but unfortunatley getting one that is suited is harder. we tried for years from thornberry,ilph, redwings etc with no success. yep we could have rescued a dartmoor pony or a donkey but unfortunately most folks don't want that type.

Yeah I guess so. The horses that end up in rescue will probably have medical or psychological issues otherwise they'd have been sold on. There will always be the odd one or two that are capable of more and that will be why there are such long waiting lists.

I suppose I was just trying to make the point that horses and ponies are available for adoption unless Thornberry have changed their policy.

Originally posted by Fishpole
Yeah I guess so. The horses that end up in rescue will probably have medical or psychological issues otherwise they'd have been sold on. There will always be the odd one or two that are capable of more and that will be why there are such long waiting lists.

I suppose I was just trying to make the point that horses and ponies are available for adoption unless Thornberry have changed their policy.

totally agree & they do occasionally have some nice ones that are suited as companions.

The majority rather than the occasional ones will make suitable companions. We just need to look a little deeper at the issues most of them have, to see that they are just poor misguided, ill treated animals looking for some understanding and a kind home. It’s a very harsh world animals have to inhabit in our throw away society.

Hi there,

My first pony came from Holmfirth Meat Market. She was a 14.2hh, bright bay, 4 year old,skinny, hairy, frightened looking thing bless her! But over the years she became the most loving animal i have ever had, we could do anything with her!! We never used a headcollar for her as she would follow me everywhere. She would come cantering across the fields when she heard me shout her name, she was beautiful, but she was extremely jelous of other horses been near me!! She won me loads of rosettes and trophies at all the local shows, we went to pony club every week, she was great!! Not saying that she was easy from the start though, she was a handfull and had to be broken in properly from scratch!!

We sold her on after 5 great years to live with 2 little girls in Barnsley on a lovely farm, apperently i heard not that long ago she is doing brilliantly!!

If we hadn't seen her that morning, god only knows her fait!

If you are desperate for a horse/pony go and have a look. It is not a nice place AT ALL!! But if you can save a life it is worth it!!

Jodie.xx

Daisy, Hi:)

Where excatly is this place at holfirth? when is it open?
Would love to buy any little one who's life needs saving!
Did you see watch dog last night? The horseimport.co.uk, what bas******! How the hell do folk get away with this.
Mega horse/animal mad, well someones got to stick up for them and it reaaly winds me up, the things that happen to our inoccent little ones.:mad:

Hello,

Sorry but all i can tell you is that it is in Holmfirth on a Saturday morning. Long,long time since i have been. If you asked around or had a look on the net i am sure you would find it. Thats if it is still on!

I will warn you, some of the horses are in a bit of a sorry state and there are some nasty looking men around, and it is quite sad when they put them in the middle of the ring and people bid on them. Just like a bloody cattle market! My friend bought a yearling from there for £25, she had to bring him home in the back of a range rover!!!!!!!!!

Jodie.x

Ps- They do sell some cheap horsey equipment there though, rugs,food, tack etc. Very Cheap!!

Thanks Jodie,

I can see a trip coming on, poor little buggers.
One or two more saved soles....gosh, I'm too soft!

That is excellent!!

Please will you let me know how you get on and what you find!!

I have had many happy years with my horses, they make fantastic pets, it is true what i read earlier about horses from Sanctuary's. A few of them end up there because of behavioral problems etc. My friend had a pony from Thornberry (His name is Sonny but we knew him as Sebastion) He really did have issues, the poor thing. He threw her off and put her in hospital for 3 weeks, she now only has half a kidney on one side. Needless to say he went back not long after. We hopefully are going to go and see the little tyke there soon. He's still on the website for adoption.

Jodie.x

Do be careful if you decide to go to Holmfirth because you could well end up bringing home a whole load of trouble. I know what you're saying Daisy129 because you've had a fabulous experience with your pony but most of these animals are obviously there for a reason. Guaranteed there will be someone trying to sell a good one, who is in a desperate situation, but I'd guess the majority will have problems and avoiding the dodgy dealers wanting to offload them takes a lot of savvy. Good luck if you do decide to go bigredbox but buyer beware as they say!

Just been reading on the Cats Prot League webpage that they are always on the look out for people to donate soft toys, bedding and towels (amongst other things). So, if you are having a throw out, think twice about what you are chucking away and perhaps you could donate these things to the League instead.

Any decent cond old clothes, bric-a-brac, the cats protection league are extremely grateful. Every little helps!
My question is why do so many animals get put in this position?
Why so many irresponsible owners? Okay some can't help the situation they're in and sometimes it's bereavement that causes the animal to lose it's home.
Why no help from government, can't understand why RSPCA is soley public funded and dependant on donations..it's just so unfair.
I would go without food myself if it meant my dog/cat and everyone else in this house had something to eat. These little ones give so much loyalty and unquestioning love and trust not to mention the pleasure you get keeping them all well and happy.
Mind you, it's prob just me, not may can speak Ginnywiggle..ish like I do and they answer....thats the brill part!
Hope Steve pulls it through and wish him best of luck.

It is tough to hear, especially when you are an animal lover yourself. Many people just don't think that it is their problem. Whether we have pets or not it is everyone's problem. I recently read a post on here where someone was cheesed off with one of the animal charities because she or he wanted to get rid of some animals. They had taken on an animal because someone they knew had either died or could no longer take care of it. This animal had proceeded to have a litter. This person could not look after all these animals and so wanted to give them to the organisation. The organisation refused to take them on the grounds that they simply did not have enough space or resources. This person then criticised this organisation. I found this to be rather ignorant in the fact that they did not consider these animals THEIR responsibility, and that it was the responsibility of the charity. It is everyone's responsibility when it comes to registered charities. Just because this person did not choose for their newly acquired pet to have a litter, does not mean that an organisation is just there to take the unwanted animals off their hands. I no longer have a pet (temporarily) but I donate money in order that these charities CAN help animals. Why then, is it MY responsibilty that this person can get rid of their unwanted animals, yet not his or her responsibility? Some people just do not understand the meaning or the concept of the word charity. They would not even exist if it were not for our money and yet some people still think that everyone else is there to bail them out whilst they sit back and don't help out at all.

Have just donated my fiver to this GOOD CAUSE.

COME ON THEY ACCEPT PAYPAL THERES NO EXCUSE FOR US COMPUTER LITERATE PEOPLE NOT TO CONTRIBUTE.

BUMP - come on lets help them - Mark payments Sheffield Forum then we can see how much of an effect This forum has for needy cases like this.

this is very sad! but I gave them loads of horsy stuff including some horse cool treatment boots and all they said was "oh put it over there" i felt like taking it home!! i live for horses and i support there work but i think i know why they dont get two donations form the same person !!!!

i feel sorry for the animals as the lack of personality and mannors from the people let down the animals as these animals need money and humans to help them..

why dont they organise a sponsored horse ride .. dog walk .. poney walk or somthing ...

to the people talking about adopting horses from redwings or thornberry etc ..
remember why the horses are there in the first place ... usally through peoplre who take them on and can not aford them and dot have time for them horses cost at least £2500 a year to live properly and thats at grass without tack... extra feed ... spacialist foot care ... vet bills if you dont have insurance lead in the thosands... ... think before acting.. sometimes you are not doing an animal a favour .

Me and my mum in law do our bit for the sanctuary every weekend, we go to the jumble sale!!! We must spend at least £50 a week between us! We got our lurcher from there so we always try and do our bit for them! :D

Count my donation in hopefully they are doing better now

This email confirms that you have paid Thornberry animal sanctuary (tasadmin@hotmail.co.uk) £5.00 GBP using PayPal.

I will try to make it a monthly donation

I usually lurk in the Pet Forum as that's where I thought all the people ended up who were interested in pets. How wrong I was.

I ended up seeing this thread and reading back over the comments made over the last few years. Its so pleasing to see that so many people are really concerned about the plight of pets.

We run Rain Rescue - we try to help the dogs that are destined to be killed on their 8th day. Our volunteers drive around the county saving the lives of lovely dogs that are destined to be killed for no other reason than just being 1 number too many. Begging places in other rescue centres to take them.

I wonder how many people on here actually realise just how many dogs do get destoyed each week - its AT LEAST 150 (well that the published figure) - 150 needless to requirements.

With the Sheffield Council renting kennel space in the old RSPCA kennels - their time is drawing close to having no-where to go to. I for one wonder whats going to happen to these dogs. Nobody wants them - nobody wants the stray contract because the councils dont think anybody cares what conditions the dogs are kept in - or how they are treated or whether they are dead or alive. They pay a small (and I mean small) amount of money to look after them. To look in the eyes of a dog that you can't find a rescue place for - and know that it will be killed soon - is truly heartbreaking.

I would urge any animal lover to start to ask questions of the Sheffield Council - ask what is happening with our stray dogs during 2007. Ask who is looking after these dogs now - ask how much of the budget do they give to the dogs who need vet treatment. Ask your MP to make it an issue - show we care.

This is not just an animal welfare issue we are talking about here. Imagine the number of families that are being made homeless through many reasons - imagine having to go into a residential home - just where do you think the pets go to? These people are already in heartbreaking situations and then they have to face having their pet put to sleep because there is nowhere else for it to go. So many dogs are going to loose their lives until the Sheffied RSPCA gets back on its feet again. Killed all down to finances.

Our unpaid volunteers face this every day. Our group fund raises to help save the lives of dogs around the country - anywhere that asks us for help - we will try to save them being put to sleep. I ask everyone to think about it and try anything they can to help where they can.

You can check the work that we do out at our web site www.rainrescue.co.uk

'Pets' is only new this year Rainrescue ;)

This is an old thread somebody has dug up

Yes i saw it was old and I know all the dirty washing about Thornberry has died down - but it was still nice to see that so many people cared before - maybe some are around that still care?

I just posted on one of the other general chat threads - but the link title is a bit misleading - but I do anything to raise awareness for a. welfare.

i really cant be assed with readin the full thread at this time of nite, but if they have set up paypal, someone please pm the addy. at least a tenner here(whatever is left in it) then my gf will also put some in. cheers folks

i think rain rescue are so good i want to help these animals too not only dogs are in this position .. people are simply heartless!!
iare you taking animals from rochdale ?? i wanted to take fudd but my own dog wouldnt be very happy about it :( so sad !! but glad you are doing something about it instead of just talking !!

Maybe we should start a new thread with this? Called Dogs in Dog Pounds.

But thanks for the compliments about our little group. The trouble is with helping dogs on death row - is that once you start - you can't stop - because dogs don't stop getting killed.

Rain rescue also takes paypal donations - we work alongside Summerfields LStPC which is also a registered charity if anyone wants to make any donations to us they would be more than welcomed - especially at this time of year.

We don't work with Rochdale - they are good little group as well - working tirelessly with the poundies up there. We are usually helping one of the biggest nightmare pounds in West Yorkshire - Notts, and Derbyshire and Worksop.

Being an animal lover and having rescue dogs myself its shame places like this are struggling. Been there many times and felt like taking half the poor mutts home. donation on its way :D

Thornberry aren't still struggling - this thread is from 95 - and was restarted.

lol apologies been on the bevvy :hihi:

Since the cash crisis is no longer affecting Thornbury Animal Sanctuary in the same way, can we please suggest that if you wish to make any further posts about making donations to animal charities, that you do so in a new thread in the Pets Group?

[QUOTE=jennyjenjen]this is very sad! but I gave them loads of horsy stuff including some horse cool treatment boots and all they said was "oh put it over there" i felt like taking it home!! i live for horses and i support there work but i think i know why they dont get two donations form the same person !!!!



In their defence, I took a load of stuff up at the weekend, and they were ever so grateful for it.

I have to mention a dog that is in the kennels at the moment, as he really pulled on my heart strings. His name is Diesel and he is a cross breed. He is the friendliest dog I have ever met. He is only 6 mths old but quite large, and very cute.

What's happened to Thornbury?

There have been a number of issues affecting the charity over the last couple of years, but I hope that people have learned by now that we are not prepared to allow either side of the dispute to use the forum for their ends and post facts only.

There have been a number of threads on the forum about the issue which have all ended up being closed, removed or extensively pruned due to the ongoing legal process and legal threats surrounding the issue.

Please don't take this thread down that route- consider this an advanced warning of holidays for those that do.

Count my donation in hopefully they are doing better now

This email confirms that you have paid Thornberry animal sanctuary (tasadmin@hotmail.co.uk) £5.00 GBP using PayPal.

I will try to make it a monthly donation
Just spotted this. I'm sure you'll have received an official thank you, but please accept mine as well. Each and every donation is important
Kind regards

Got my dog Benji from there 4 years ago he`s sooo faithfull and obedient. Just donated them a tenner it`s not much but better than nothing.

Closing at the OP's request to prevent charity politics from causing the thread to be removed.