Lizzie's Barn Sanctuary

23/01/2025

It's been a difficult start to the new year, still reeling with the loss of Old timers Jet, Trixie, Beryl, Sadie, Lola, Benji, Daniel and Scrappy all in a very short space of time, the emotional toll is heavy.

Fionna is also now also dealing with the loss of her soul dog, Syd, best friend, and companion for the last 13 years and 3 months.

As ever with an ageing population of residents, the vet bills mount with £2000 paid out so far this year, and a similar amount owing.

Our monthly bill for Yumove is between £25 & £50 - depending on whether anyone donates any. It really makes a difference and helps to keep the vet bills down as it does delay the need for hard-core arthritis drugs.

We have had to buy the first dog food of the year and have today spent at £1374 on Skinners Field & Trial Salmon & Rice 60 x 15kg sacks, we were lucky as there is an offer this month with £4 off each sack.
Middleton raw dog foods 80kg at £113.14
Bella & Duke 20kg at £85.32 ( this is more expensive but is for one of the dogs who has a sensitive tum, and it suits him perfectly.

We have a few dogs who need raw food, so we are always grateful for donations, particularly tripe / tripe mixes.

We also need to buy Chappie ORIGINAL, as are almost out of that too, and little Yogi can only eat that.

This leaves us very little in the bank account. So please pop over to our fundraising pages

https://www.facebook.com/groups/632349961017709/?ref=share

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1005213386654775/?ref=share

Or make a donation

Our account is with HSBC
Account name: Lizzie’s Barn Sanctuary
Account number 11667270
Sort code: 40-30-10

Or PayPal: [email protected]
( they do take a large % of your donation)

You can also see us on page 62 of the latest DogToday Magazine. ( issue 365)

Thank you 😊

The photo shows Breeze, Micky & Hugo having a meeting shortly before Bark o'clock - Those who have Mastins will understand the phrase. For those who don't, Bark o'clock is the time when the light starts to fade as dusk turns to dark. A time when all good livestock guardians need to inform all and sundry, especially waking preditors, that THEY are on duty and of the need for them to STAY AWAY

Good livestock guardians will then repeat this warning at random times to reinforce the message.

13/01/2025

Pingo is very comfortable while he awaits that elusive forever home.

28/12/2024

We love them come what may at Lizzie's Barn Sanctuary .
This is the charmer known as Paddy, Patrick, or sometimes Patch, depending on his mood, telling me he wants to sit on my lap!
There are no prizes for guessing why he became a permanent resident.

19/12/2024

On behalf of all the admins, Fionna Ashman, Gail Sims and Becky Marsden, I would just like to thank everyone who has supported us over the past year, whether it be donating items, bidding on items, donating money and everything else I may have forgotten.
Without you our supporters/members, we just couldn't raise what we do, for Fionna and the dogs at the Sanctuary.
We wish you all a wonderful Christmas and a happy and healthy New Year.
Please stay with us in the New Year and please remember that we are going to need items for our Support Group so please keep any unwanted Xmas pressies etc for us. Thank you ### 🙏🙏🙏🎄☃️🎅🎁
Olga xx

P.S I personally want to thank Gail & Becky because without your very very hard work and dedication, there is no way I could do it alone. We are the "A Team" and we work so well together, I wouldn't want to have anyone else working with me other than you both. Thank you ladies, I love you both xx 😍🐶🫂🎄☃️🎅🎁 xx 💞💞 Olga x

16/12/2024

Night night from Breeze ❤️ 😍

16/12/2024

**Thank you all for your kind comments. I made this post not to ask for sympathy, but just to let everyone know what's going on. I am often told I should tell it as it is more often.

An update from the Sanctuary.
The past few weeks have been some of the hardest of my life, and I feel as though I've been to hell and back—though, thankfully, I'm halfway back now. The Sanctuary dogs are getting older, many well over 12 years old, and as you can imagine, their vet bills have been enormous. We've already lost seven dogs this year—Trixie, Jet, Sadie, Beryl, Lola, Benji, and Daniel—and several others are dealing with serious health issues. Yogi has liver problems, Scrappy has cancer but is surprisingly doing well on his new diet, and Max just had an eye removed. Lucky and Briggs, both in lifetime foster, are in early kidney failure, with Lucky also having heart issues. Poppy, aka Hannibal Poodle, and Gatsby are both getting elderly and a little forgetful, actually Gatsby is away with the faries, but it seems a nice place, so I may join him. Even Bica, the ever-vigilant bugler who always played the morning Reveille, has been sleeping in, so thats a little concerning

On top of this, my own dogs haven't been trouble-free either. My beloved Syd, now 13, has some health issues, and we're running tests for thyroid problems. Lucky, who I rescued in France (the one with the massive facial tumour), was recently attacked on a walk—it's a miracle he's still with us. While he’s being treated for the attack, a mass was discovered on his foot, and we're awaiting biopsy results. I’m hoping for answers soon for both Syd and Lucky. The stress of it all is overwhelming, and some days, it feels like I'm carrying several tonne bags of ballast on my shoulders
The demand for taking in dogs is off the scale, and it's heartbreaking knowing we can't help every one of them. The weight of that is heavy. Homing has been very slow, but on a positive note, Stormy and Nala were both rehomed this weekend, and we hope all goes well for them.

16/12/2024

Dear Olga, Gail, and Becky,

We want to take a moment to express our heartfelt thanks for all the incredible work you do. So many people don't realize the sheer amount of effort, dedication, and care you pour into everything, but we certainly do. Your contributions are immeasurable, and we can't express just how grateful we are to have you as part of our team.

A huge thank you also goes to everyone who supports us—your efforts do not go unnoticed, and we are truly appreciative.

With love and gratitude,
Fionna and all the dogs at the Sanctuary

15/12/2024

Enormous thanks to Tracy-Louise Barham & friends Helen Francis & Mary Cox who kindly donated almost £200 in memory of Tracy's much loved companion Gwion, who recently passed away at the grand age of 17. We are so sorry to hear of your loss Tracy.

11/12/2024

The lovely Vets, nurses and staff at our veterinary practice Vets4pets Crosshands have set up a Christmas sales table to help raise some money to help us.

Lots of lovely gifts and a raffle for Santa Teddy.

If you are visiting Crosshands, please do pop in and spend some of your hard earned cash, solve some gift dilemmas, and do something good at the same time.
They are upstairs at the back of Pets at Home for those who don't know.

11/12/2024

Please sign and share 🙏🙏

Over 39,000 animal procedures took place in Wales in 2022, an increase on 2021. However polls show most people oppose animal research, favouring new technologies. (South Wales Argus April 2021) Four Welsh universities (Aberystwyth, Bangor, Cardiff and Swansea) conduct animal studies. Yet the Welsh G...

09/12/2024

River, Luna & Pepper patiently waiting in the sun for their forever homes.

Adoption enquiries via email to:- [email protected]

07/12/2024

So much for the worst over by 11am!

We have roof sheets flying around and half the dutch barn roof has gone. That is going to be expensive.

07/12/2024

The dogs knew last night that Darragh was going to be a big one because none of them sang to him as he arrived.

We are all surviving the storm. The dogs are all fine, sensibly heads all down and sleeping. The buildings and structures however are are taking a battering still, infact the wind speeds seem worse now than last night, with corregated plastic ripped off sheltered areas, tin flying off the dutch barn and the polytunnel- our wet weather play area for the small dogs, and chill area for the big guys, is decimated and flying a million translucent flags in Darraghs name to celebrate his conquest.

27/11/2024

Please see the latest update 🌈🌈💔💔

I can't believe I am writing this 😢😢😢😢😢
Unfortuately Fionna lost the gorgeous Daniel during the night 😢😢

He was sleeping with Fionna so at least he wasnt alone. The other dogs started howling, woke both Fionna and Daniel. He lifted his head up and went to join in, and then just stared, lowered his head down and was gone. The vet thinks it was possibly a blood clot from the surgery that travelled to his heart or brain.
At least he was with Fionna when he crossed the Bridge. Please keep Fionna in your thoughts, she is finding this so hard as you can imagine.
Thank you all. Olga 💔💔🌈🌈

Update on Daniel

He had the most enormous spleen removed. He was very lucky. It had ruptured by the time he went into surgery - but was successfully removed . All surrounding areas were clear to the naked eye.
He came through the op well and looked so much better than he had thos morning.
He was panting a lot, but otherwise, ok.

He came home during the evening, and It was quickly apparent that the panting was because he was now well enough to be more aware of his surroundings stress, and of being in an unfamiliar place, Dan doesn't do unfamiliar. It is why he is with us.

I slept with him overnight and administered his meds at the required intervals - that will continue day and night for a few days.

He is up and about, irritated, because I won't let him go hang out with his mates outside.

We just need him to eat now.

Thank you all for your good wishes thoughts, he has come this far, so we are hopeful all will be well.

His bill is likely to be big, but it will be substantially reduced because I can do his post-op nursing here at the Sanctuary.

Thankyou Emma, Sam & all the lovely team at Vets4pets Crosshands, you guys are awesome.

Big thanks to all who have donated so far. We couldn't do it without your support.

Fionna and the team.

26/11/2024

I can't believe I am writing this 😢😢😢😢😢
Unfortuately Fionna lost the gorgeous Daniel during the night 😢😢

He was sleeping with Fionna so at least he wasnt alone. The other dogs started howling, woke both Fionna and Daniel. He lifted his head up and went to join in, and then just stared, lowered his head down and was gone. The vet thinks it was possibly a blood clot from the surgery that travelled to his heart or brain.
At least he was with Fionna when he crossed the Bridge. Please keep Fionna in your thoughts, she is finding this so hard as you can imagine.
Thank you all. Olga 💔💔🌈🌈

Update on Daniel

He had the most enormous spleen removed. He was very lucky. It had ruptured by the time he went into surgery - but was successfully removed . All surrounding areas were clear to the naked eye.
He came through the op well and looked so much better than he had thos morning.
He was panting a lot, but otherwise, ok.

He came home during the evening, and It was quickly apparent that the panting was because he was now well enough to be more aware of his surroundings stress, and of being in an unfamiliar place, Dan doesn't do unfamiliar. It is why he is with us.

I slept with him overnight and administered his meds at the required intervals - that will continue day and night for a few days.

He is up and about, irritated, because I won't let him go hang out with his mates outside.

We just need him to eat now.

Thank you all for your good wishes thoughts, he has come this far, so we are hopeful all will be well.

His bill is likely to be big, but it will be substantially reduced because I can do his post-op nursing here at the Sanctuary.

Thankyou Emma, Sam & all the lovely team at Vets4pets Crosshands, you guys are awesome.

Big thanks to all who have donated so far. We couldn't do it without your support.

Fionna and the team.

25/11/2024

An update on the 💞💞💞 Daniel.
Please help with the enormous vet bill. Thank you so much 🙏🙏💞💞

25/11/2024

UPDATE
-------------
Fionna has gone to the vet's to collect Daniel. He had his very enlarged spleen removed. He is doing well so far thankfully.
Please keep him in your thoughts and ANY help with the vet bill would be greatly appreciated. Thank you all 🙏🙏💞💞

Daniel has had a scan which reveals a large probably splenic mass. I'm advised that approximately 50% of splenic tumours are not cancerous.
I'm sitting with him while we wait for his full bloods to decide whether surgery is an option. He will need a chest xray before any surgery to check there is no visable spread, should it be cancerous.
He is comfortable at the moment and on fluids, antibiotics, paracetamol and txa.

25/11/2024

Please keep our old fella Daniel in your thoughts today.

He has been off his food over the weekend after a few days of fussyness (not a normal trait for our boy). So he is off to vets for some tests. I fear it's renal renal failure, but we will hopefully find out more later on, hopefully we will be able to do something for him.

One of the hardest parts of living with so many elderly dogs is that once one goes, they seem to fall like dominoes. The emotional toll is huge.
Although some helpful folk make comments like
"Oh, you must be used to it"
Let me tell you, it's not something you get used to, or that gets easier. It just gets harder each time.

I won't even go into the financial strain either. But if you want to contribute to our vet bills, we are always extremely grateful.
Bank - Lizzie’s Barn Sanctuary
Account number 11667270
Sort code: 40-30-10

PayPal- [email protected]