Crosskennan Lane Animal Sanctuary

04/12/2025

🎄 ADVENT APPEAL - 4th day of our countdown to Christmas

“I nearly didn’t get my walk today…” – Tinny

Tinny was out for a walk this afternoon during one of our equine sessions — ears pricked, little legs flying, living his best Shetland life.

But truthfully?
It nearly didn’t happen.

When we went to the cupboard to grab a lead rope…
there were none left.

Lead ropes are one of those things that vanish around here:
• cheaper ones snap after too much hard work
• stronger ones get used to tie gates, pens, and temporary fixings
• some simply go walkabout into the great abyss of yard gear

And with so many ponies, horses, donkeys and volunteers using them daily, we burn through them far faster than people realise.

So Tinny wanted to very politely ask:

“Could anyone help a pony out… and send us some lead ropes?”

Anything suitable for ponies, horses or Shetlands would make a real difference — especially the sturdier ones that can stand a bit of daily chaos.

And Tinny says that while you’re in the Shetland-shopping mood…
a few extra Shetland-sized goodies are always welcome too
(treats, little grooming brushes, small buckets, pony-sized headcollars).

⸻

🎁 How to Help Tinny and Friends

📦 Drop-Off Address:
Crosskennan Lane Animal Sanctuary
26 Crosskennan Lane, Ballynoe, Antrim, BT41 2QY

🕓 Drop-Off Hours:
Mon, Tue, Wed, Fri, Sat — 10am–4pm

🛍️ Wishlist:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/hz/wishlist/ls/3H0PFLPE4ZO9W/ref=cm_go_nav_hz

💳 Donate Online:
https://www.crosskennanlane.co.uk/donate

📧 Email: [email protected]

📱 Text-to-Donate:
Text HELPCLAS to 70460 to donate £5
(or HELPCLAS 10 for £10).

04/12/2025

🎄🐾 A little sneak peek at our prep for Saturday…

Our volunteers have been busy baking the cutest paw-print cookies for this weekend’s Christmas events! 😍🐾

Whether you’re joining us for Cats & Coffee, Pony Ground Games, Ridden Camp, or a full festive day — there’ll be plenty of treats, cosy moments, crafts, and Christmas magic waiting at the sanctuary.

There are still a few spaces left, especially in Cats & Coffee…
and we’d love to see you there. 💚

Come meet the ponies, say hello to the cats, enjoy a sweet treat, and soak up some festive cheer — all while supporting the animals who call Crosskennan home this Christmas.

🎄 Book your place for Saturday 6th December:
👉 https://www.crosskennanlane.co.uk/events-1/christmas-at-crosskennan

Because Christmas tastes even better when it helps rescue animals. 💕🐴🐱

04/12/2025

Has anyone lost a wee collie pup along ballynoe road? OWNER FOUND🥰

03/12/2025

🎄 DAY 3 – 24 Days of Giving

Cleaning – it seems simple, but it isn’t. Especially when everyone is being extra helpful!

People see buckets, brushes and bottles and think it’s just routine housework.
It isn’t.

When you’re dealing with rescues, cleaning becomes animal welfare, infection control, and safety all rolled into one.

We have new arrivals coming in all the time — dogs, kittens, ponies, older horses — and every single one needs a clean, disinfected environment from the moment their hooves or paws touch the yard.

And it’s not just about the animals.
It’s our safety too.

Cleaning means:
• keeping floors disinfected and dry
• washing towels and bedding so they’re safe to reuse
• handwashing and sanitising between animals
• keeping paths clear so no one slips — human or animal
• reducing spread of infection, especially with vulnerable rescues

It’s constant.
It’s heavy.
And it takes a lot more product than people realise.

🧼 What we urgently need:
• Laundry detergent (we wash 3–4 loads every day)
• Disinfectants (Urine Stop, kennel disinfectant, general disinfectant)
• Bleach
• Washing-up liquid
• Hand soap
• Bin bags (all sizes)
• Disposable gloves & reusable gloves
• Mops, mop heads, buckets
• Cloths, sponges, scrubbing brushes

A bottle of bleach, a bag of washing powder, a pack of gloves — it all gets used within days.
And it all keeps the sanctuary safe for the animals who rely on us.

⸻

🎁 How to Support Day 3

📦 Drop-Off Address:
Crosskennan Lane Animal Sanctuary
26 Crosskennan Lane, Ballynoe, Antrim, BT41 2QY

🕓 Drop-Off Hours:
Mon, Tue, Wed, Fri, Sat — 10am–4pm

🛍️ Amazon Wishlist:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/hz/wishlist/ls/3H0PFLPE4ZO9W/ref=cm_go_nav_hz

📧 Email: [email protected]

💳 Donate Online:
https://www.crosskennanlane.co.uk/donate

📱 Text-to-Donate:
Text HELPCLAS to 70460 to donate £5
(or HELPCLAS 10 for £10).

03/12/2025

🎄💚 Don’t forget that there are still tickets available for our Christmas Ballot! 💚🎄
£1 a ticket — real prizes, real impact.

Every ticket sold helps keep animals like Cyril, Hercules, Benji, Willow, Seren and Seymour - safe, fed, warm, and cared for this winter. That’s the truth of it.

From cash prizes and vouchers to a luxury overnight stay and a bespoke pet portrait, there’s plenty up for grabs — and every entry directly supports the sanctuary at a time we need it most.

🎟️ How to Get Your Tickets:
💻 Buy online: https://www.crosskennanlane.co.uk/product-page/christmas-ballot-2025
📩 Order ticket books (10 per book): [email protected]
🐾 Collect in person at the sanctuary

Winter hits hard here. Your £1 genuinely makes a difference — keeping the lights on, animals bedded, and essential care funded.

Let’s make this our strongest Christmas Ballot yet — for Cyril, and every single animal depending on us. 💚

🎄 Crosskennan Lane Animal Sanctuary Christmas Ballot 2025 🎄Get ready for the festive season and support a wonderful cause with our 2025 Christmas Ballot!This year, our amazing Friends of Crosskennan Lane Animal Sanctuary have donated an incredible range of prizes. Don’t miss your chance to w...

02/12/2025

🎄 DAY 2 – 24 Days of Giving

Supplements… and today it’s Denzel asking.

If anyone deserves a bit of help breathing easier this winter, it’s Denzel the donkey.

Denzel struggles more than most with dust, damp air, and the constant winter cough that flares the moment the weather turns. Respiratory issues in older donkeys don’t just “go away” — they need managing every single day.

That’s why Respirator Powder is one of the most important supplements we use… and of course, we’re running low. Because we always are.

Along with it, we’re also short on two other essentials we use daily in the feeds of our older and arthritic horses and ponies:

🐴 What we urgently need:
• NAF Respirator Powder – for Denzel and others who struggle with breathing through winter.
• NAF Devil’s Relief Liquid – vital for easing stiffness and chronic pain.
• NAF Glucosamine 12,000 + MSM – joint support for our creaky, retired, long-term residents.

These aren’t optional extras.
They are the difference between Denzel breathing clearly and Denzel coughing his way through the day.

A tub, a bottle, a donation — it all makes a direct impact.

⸻

🎁 How to Support Day 2

📦 Drop-Off Address:
Crosskennan Lane Animal Sanctuary
26 Crosskennan Lane, Ballynoe, Antrim, BT41 2QY

🕓 Drop-Off Hours:
Mon, Tue, Wed, Fri, Sat — 10am–4pm

📧 Email: [email protected]

🛍️ Amazon Wishlist:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/hz/wishlist/ls/3H0PFLPE4ZO9W/ref=cm_go_nav_hz

💳 Donate Online:
https://www.crosskennanlane.co.uk/donate

📱 Text-to-Donate:
Text HELPCLAS to 70460 to donate £5
(or HELPCLAS 10 for £10).

01/12/2025

🎄 DAY 1 – 24 Days of Giving

Harvey’s Christmas Wish: TREATS! 🦴🍎🥕

Harvey wanted to kick off our Advent Appeal with the simplest, happiest request of all:

“Could we please have some treats?”

He’s not wrong.
Treats keep spirits up here — horses, dogs, cats, ponies, the oldies, the anxious ones, the new arrivals… everyone gets a little joy from a treat.

And the best part?

Treats don’t need to be fancy.
Just safe, familiar, and something they’ll enjoy.

✔️ What Counts as a Treat?

🐴 Horses & Ponies
• Eating apples (no cooking apples)
• Carrots
• Pears
• Horslyx blocks
• Likit refills
• Dengie horse treats

🐶 Dogs
• Denzel’s dog chews
• Scrumbles dog treats
• Wagg Cookie Bites (yellow pack)
• Yak chews, KONG wobblers, tough treat toys

🐱 Cats
• Dreamies
• Lick-e-Lix
• Webbox Tasty Sticks
• Fresh chicken or ham for our fussier eaters

Every treat donated goes straight to the animals who need it most — the nervous ones learning trust, the seniors who deserve something special, and the new arrivals settling into sanctuary life this Christmas.

⸻

🎁 How to Support Day 1

📦 Drop-Off Address:
Crosskennan Lane Animal Sanctuary
26 Crosskennan Lane
Ballynoe, Antrim
BT41 2QY 

🕓 Drop-Off Hours:
Mon, Tue, Wed, Fri, Sat — 10am–4pm
(Email us for alternative times.)

📧 Contact:
[email protected] 

🛍️ Amazon Wishlist (Official):
https://www.amazon.co.uk/hz/wishlist/ls/3H0PFLPE4ZO9W/ref=cm_go_nav_hz 

💳 Donate Online:
https://www.crosskennanlane.co.uk/donate 

📱 Text-to-Donate:
Text HELPCLAS to 70460 to donate £5
(or add an amount: e.g., HELPCLAS 10 for £10). 

01/12/2025

🐱☕ CATS & COFFEE – CHRISTMAS EDITION!
Spaces still available — book now!

Looking for a calm, cosy, feel-good Christmas activity?
Our Cats & Coffee sessions on Saturday 6th December are the perfect little festive escape.

Come settle into our warm cat cabin with a hot drink, a Christmas sweet treat, and some quality time with our sanctuary cats… then pop over to the barn for festive crafts, pony meet-and-greets, and a visit to see Santa too! 🎅🐴✨

It’s relaxed.
It’s heart-warming.
And every ticket helps us care for the animals this winter. 💚

📅 AM & PM sessions available
🎟️ £15 per person
📍 Crosskennan Lane Animal Sanctuary
⚠️ Limited spaces — early booking recommended

👉 Book now:
https://www.crosskennanlane.co.uk/events-1/christmas-at-crosskennan

30/11/2025

Thank you all for your bids - the auction is now closed - unless an item has no bids on it - then please feel free to make an offer.

Please email [email protected] to confirm your payment, and organise delivery/postage/collection.

Have a lovely Sunday evening!

30/11/2025

One week to go! Are you coming to join us either in the cabin with the cats or the barn with the horses and ponies?!

We can’t wait to welcome you all!

This is an event which is essential in helping bridge some of those extra costs incurred during the winter so we need your support!

Book your space today!

Christmas Festive Fun🎄
🐶 Only a Few Weeks Left to Secure Your Spot!
Susie is checking the list again… and she wants to make sure YOU don’t miss out on Christmas at Crosskennan! 🎅✨

Our Christmas events are now live — and with limited spaces, they’re filling up fast. Whether you love ponies, prefer cats, or want the full festive experience, there’s something for everyone at the sanctuary this year. 💚

⸻

⭐ 🎁 FULL EVENT LIST – SATURDAY 6TH DECEMBER

Festive, non-ridden fun for adults & kids!
🐎 Ridden Pony Camp – Afternoon Session (1:30–3:00)

Pony rides • ridden games • grooming • decorating • crafts • cookies
🎟️ Riding Ticket £35
🎟️ General Ticket £15

Sweet treats, pony fun, and Santa… what’s not to like?
⸻

🐱☕ Cats & Coffee – AM & PM Sessions

A calm, cosy festive hour with our sanctuary cats
Hot drink • sweet treat • crafts in the barn • pony meet-and-greets
🎟️ £15 per person

⸻

🎅🧸 Santa Visits (Optional Add-On)

£5 — Visit Santa with festive sweets
£10 — Visit Santa + Cyril Teddy & certificate
(All proceeds support the animals over Christmas)

⸻

👨‍👩‍👧 Family Packages Available

Make a full festive day of it — mix ponies, cats, coffee, cookies, games & more.
£120 or £135 bundles, depending on session choices.

⸻

⭐ BOOK NOW

👉 https://www.crosskennanlane.co.uk/events-1/christmas-at-crosskennan
📌 Spaces are limited — please book early to secure your place!

After booking, don’t forget to complete the registration form sent with your tickets.

⸻

💚 Why It Matters

Every ticket supports the rescued horses, ponies, donkeys, dogs and cats who call Crosskennan home this Christmas.
Our events are 100% volunteer-run — your support keeps us going through the winter.

⸻

🐶🎄

30/11/2025

No bids for this beautiful print…

Lot 18 – “Alphabet of Cats” Signed Print (Adele Pound)

Large illustrated cat print, signed.
Size: approx. 54 × 42 cm (framed)
Retail price: £45
Reserve £30

🟢 How to Bid

To bid, comment directly under this lot with your bid amount.

All bids must be in whole pounds (£).

If your bid is below the reserve, it will not count.

The highest valid bid at 8pm on Sunday 30th November wins the lot.

🔄 Outbid Notifications

We will try to notify people when they have been outbid,
but as our auction is run entirely by volunteers, this may not always be possible.
Please keep checking your bids.

📦 Postage, Packing & Collection
📮 Standard Postage (smaller items)

Standard postage for small/medium items is £3.50 (Royal Mail Second Class Small Parcel).

Postage is added to the winning bid unless otherwise stated.

🚚 Postage for Larger or Fragile Items (Art, Glass, Larger Pieces)

We can post larger items and glassware.

Postage costs for these items will vary depending on size, weight, and packaging required.

We will confirm the postage cost with the winner after the auction.

All postage of glass and large items is strictly at the buyer’s own risk.

📍 Collection

Collection available from:
Crosskennan Lane Animal Sanctuary, Ballynoe, Antrim (BT41 2QY).

🚗 Volunteer Delivery

Local delivery may be possible if a volunteer lives nearby.

This is not guaranteed and will be arranged case by case after the auction.

💳 Payment

Winners will be contacted after the auction closes.

Payment is required before collection or postage.

Payment details will be provided privately.

📅 Auction Ends

⏰ Sunday 30th November at 8pm sharp
Any bids timestamped after 8:00pm will not be counted.

🐴 Thank You

All proceeds go directly toward our winter care costs, which exceed £26,000 per month to feed, bed, house, and provide veterinary care for our animals.

29/11/2025

We have a total of 22 lots still without any bids, these are beautiful items that are all brand new - most handcrafted/handmade. Please take a look and make a bid if you can.

fans please share and help us raise some much needed funds!

📌 AUCTION INFORMATION – PLEASE READ BEFORE BIDDING
🟢 How to Bid

To bid, comment directly under this lot with your bid amount.

All bids must be in whole pounds (£).

If your bid is below the reserve, it will not count.

The highest valid bid at 8pm on Sunday 30th November wins the lot.

🔄 Outbid Notifications

We will try to notify people when they have been outbid,
but as our auction is run entirely by volunteers, this may not always be possible.
Please keep checking your bids.

📦 Postage, Packing & Collection
📮 Standard Postage (smaller items)

Standard postage for small/medium items is £3.50 (Royal Mail Second Class Small Parcel).

Postage is added to the winning bid unless otherwise stated.

🚚 Postage for Larger or Fragile Items (Art, Glass, Larger Pieces)

We can post larger items and glassware.

Postage costs for these items will vary depending on size, weight, and packaging required.

We will confirm the postage cost with the winner after the auction.

All postage of glass and large items is strictly at the buyer’s own risk.

🚫 About Glassware

Glass lots are hand-blown, delicate, and unboxed.

We wrap them extremely carefully, but we cannot guarantee safe arrival.

Posting is available only at the buyer’s risk, or you may choose collection/delivery instead.

📍 Collection

Collection available from:
Crosskennan Lane Animal Sanctuary, Ballynoe, Antrim (BT41 2QY).

🚗 Volunteer Delivery

Local delivery may be possible if a volunteer lives nearby.

This is not guaranteed and will be arranged case by case after the auction.

💳 Payment

Winners will be contacted after the auction closes.

Payment is required before collection or postage.

Payment details will be provided privately.

📅 Auction Ends

⏰ Sunday 30th November at 8pm sharp
Any bids timestamped after 8:00pm will not be counted.

🐴 Thank You

All proceeds go directly toward our winter care costs, which exceed £26,000 per month to feed, bed, house, and provide veterinary care for our animals.