Crosskennan Lane Animal Sanctuary

04/04/2025

We really appreciate all the support from everyone since launching our appeal. Our April events are booking up fast so please book now if interested & come see first hand the work we do.

We recognise many are struggling including other animal charities.

Together we can make a difference to animal welfare and people’s lives in Northern Ireland.

🙏Thankyou 🙏

https://m.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/we-struggle-month-after-month-co-antrim-animal-sanctuary-appeals-for-help-as-vet-and-feed-bills-soar

A Co Antrim animal shelter is appealing for help to support its ability to fund veterinary bills and cover the basic running costs of the only charity in NI dedicated to the welfare of equines.

04/04/2025

We’re delighted to see this fantastic offer from the USPCA this April!
Neutering saves lives—and with kitten season already starting, it’s never been more important.

It’s snip time! ✂️
• Cats: Neutering and microchipping for just £10! 🐱 Already neutered? Microchipping is FREE!
• Dogs: FREE microchipping too! 🐶

This scheme is available through the USPCA only—at their Veterinary Practice in Newry and with Corry & O’Hare Vets in Omagh.
To qualify, you must be receiving benefits (proof required in the registered keeper’s name).

Please note: We cannot offer any subsidised rates ourselves—contact the USPCA directly on 028 3025 1000 to book or find out more.

Let’s work together to reduce unwanted litters and give pets the best start in life!

✂️

Great news! 🎉 Throughout April, we’re offering a discounted neutering and microchipping scheme!

🐱 Cats: Neutering + microchipping for just £10! Already neutered? We’ll microchip them for free.

🐶 Dogs: FREE microchipping available.

To qualify, you must be receiving benefits, with proof required under the registered keeper’s name.

📅 Limited slots available! Call us on 028 3025 1000 to enquire further and book your appointment at our Veterinary Practice in Newry.

We're pleased to partner with Corry & O’Hare Vets in Omagh who are also running the offer.

04/04/2025

🌾 Just Being There Matters 🌾
This week, we had a gentle therapy session in the barn—just a couple of ponies, a few quiet games, and some open space to breathe.

There was no pressure. No big expectations. Just the calm presence of people and ponies, learning to trust, to listen, and to play a little.

At one point, we weren’t sure who got more out of it—the participant, the facilitator, or the pony. That’s the beauty of it. The connection flows both ways.

Getting involved doesn’t mean taking the lead or being an expert. Sometimes, it just means being there. Holding a lead rope. Passing a brush. Offering quiet encouragement. Laughing when a pony steps carefully over the poles, then turns to ask, “Did I do it right?”

It’s the small things that build something powerful.

If you’ve ever thought about volunteering, this is your sign. You don’t need to know everything. You just need to show up with an open heart and a little time.

📧 Email [email protected] with the subject line AHP Volunteer – Animals Helping People.
Let’s create more peaceful, playful moments—together. 🐴💛

03/04/2025

🌟 Next Week: Lucas Turns 26 – Help Us Celebrate Our American Gentleman! 🐎
On April 10th, we’ll be celebrating the incredible life of Lucas, one of Crosskennan’s most beloved residents, as he turns 26 years old! 🎉

Lucas’s story is one of resilience, transformation, and heart. Born in the USA in 1999 and brought to the UK to race, he was found abandoned and barely alive by age five. His recovery has been long, but his impact has been enormous—from competing at Balmoral Show to helping nervous riders, students, and therapy groups over the last 15+ years.

Now retired, he still plays a gentle, guiding role in our sanctuary life—and we want to make this birthday extra special. 💛

🎁 Here’s How You Can Help Lucas Celebrate:
💝 Send a gift from his Horse Birthday Wishlist:
🎁 https://www.amazon.co.uk/hz/wishlist/ls/2TZMLNDXRFMUH?ref_=wl_share

🧘 Add something special, like:

Magnesium Oxide Supplement (98.3% Pure)

Devil’s Relief – for his joints

Hestevard Profix – for his sensitive gut

Sudocrem – for minor skin issues

Shavings – for his deep, comfy bed

💸 Or donate/sponsor here:
🧡 https://www.crosskennanlane.co.uk/support

💬 Have a memory of Lucas? Share it in the comments or send him a birthday message below!

Lucas has touched so many lives over the years. Let’s show him just how loved he is.
Join us next week in wishing a Happy 26th to our American Gentleman! 🥕💛

03/04/2025

🐾 We Need You! Volunteers Wanted to Help Animals & People at Crosskennan 🐾
Do you love animals? Enjoy connecting with people? Or maybe you just have the gift of the gab and want to do something that matters?

We’re looking for kind, committed, and enthusiastic volunteers to support a growing range of educational, fundraising, and therapeutic activities here at Crosskennan Lane Animal Sanctuary.

Whether you’re experienced with animals, great with people, or just curious and willing to learn—we’d love to hear from you!

🐴 Volunteer Roles Include:
Helping visitors during horse and pony sessions – grooming, mindful walks, pony rides, and more
Supporting cat sessions – helping individuals engage in sensory and social interactions with our rescue cats
Assisting with guided tours, fundraising events, and open days
Supporting participants during mindful, therapeutic, or social animal activities
Helping set up, guide, and tidy away after sessions
Whether it’s helping someone hold a brush, leading a pony calmly, or simply being there to guide and reassure—you’re the support that makes these moments possible.

🕐 Time Commitment:
Even just 2 hours a month makes a difference
Most sessions are 1–3 hours long (max 4 hours including setup/takedown)
We need help weekdays, evenings, and weekends—especially weekdays and Saturday afternoons
All we ask is reliability and a willingness to do a little training with our senior team

💬 Ideal Volunteers:
Animal lovers
Friendly, calm communicators
People who enjoy helping others feel safe and welcome
Neurodivergent-friendly roles available
Open to students, retirees, professionals, and anyone in between!

No experience? No problem—we’ll support you every step of the way.

🐾 Want to Help?
📧 Email: [email protected]
✉️ Subject line: AHP Volunteer – Animals Helping People

Let’s build something meaningful—together.
Help us help animals and people. ❤️

02/04/2025

Due to our Coffee with Cats events nearly selling out, a further session has been added for Saturday 19th April!

Some spaces are still also left for Easter Tuesday.

See https://www.crosskennanlane.co.uk/events-1/easter-coffee-with-cats-19th-april-11-30am

01/04/2025

Miley, Bowie, and Dolly are still waiting for their forever homes. Rescued as part of an emergency case with 10 other cats, they need quiet indoor-only homes where they can feel safe and loved.

While they may not be tiny kittens, they are still very young cats with their whole lives ahead of them. They deserve just as much love and opportunity - especially now that all the younger members of their group have been adopted! Kittens grow up quickly, reaching adulthood in about a year, but most cats live well into their late teens.

Each of these cats needs a special home where they can decompress and build confidence. They all appreciate gentle handling, grooming, and a calm presence.

Apply here: https://www.crosskennanlane.co.uk/cat-re-homing-application

31/03/2025

Calling all lap cat lovers ‼️
This super affectionate boy is still waiting on applications. 🤯 He’s been health checked, neutered, fully vaccinated & microchipped. He just needs a forever home!

- Ginger
- 2 years old
- Male
- Can live with younger children

Ginger is a friendly, confident and vocal boy who loves people. He’ll be demanding cuddles within minutes of meeting you! 🥰

Ginger is in a foster home in the Newtownabbey area. (This is where meet & greets will be held).

Please apply here: https://www.crosskennanlane.co.uk/cat-re-homing-application

If you have applied for Ginger or one of our cats before & you’re still interested, please email: [email protected]

31/03/2025

Junior Volunteer & Duke of Edinburgh Placements – Now Open!
Also suitable for older volunteers looking to get involved!

Are you aged 14+ and looking to make a difference? Want to gain experience, build confidence, and spend time helping animals?

Crosskennan Lane Animal Sanctuary is now accepting new Junior Volunteers, Duke of Edinburgh participants, and older volunteers who may be new to volunteering or feeling a little unsure.

Commitment:
• Minimum of 2 hours per session
• Opportunities available every Saturday, with extra sessions on select weekdays and during school holidays
• Full-day sessions (10/11am – 5pm) available depending on supervisor availability

Requirements:
• Must be 14+ to attend independently
• 12+ accepted if accompanied by a parent or guardian
• No experience necessary – just a willingness to get involved and learn

Have additional needs or questions?
Talk to us! We may be able to accommodate or adapt sessions to support you.

Whether you’re working toward your Duke of Edinburgh Award, looking for your first volunteering opportunity, or just wanting to help out but feeling nervous – you are welcome here.

Limited Spaces Available!
To register your interest or apply, please email: [email protected]

If you’ve applied or contacted us before, please do so again to confirm you’re still interested. We can only take on a limited number of new volunteers at a time – get in touch now to secure your place!

30/03/2025

Happy Mother’s Day – To All Kinds of Mums

Today we’re celebrating Mother’s Day—and here at the sanctuary, we’ve known some truly remarkable mothers.

💜 Daisy the Cat – Small in size, huge in heart.
When Daisy arrived, she was already a mum. She raised her kittens with incredible care, even while navigating her own rescue journey. Her love and patience gave those kittens the best start possible.

🐴 Tweedy the Horse – Leader, protector, and mum through and through.
Tweedy gently watches over her daughter Harper, always nearby during handling sessions. She keeps the peace in her herd, even stepping in to protect the much larger Grace from bossy Theodore. She’s the smallest in her group, but no one doubts she’s in charge.

Whether they’re nurturing their own young or caring for others, mums like Daisy and Tweedy remind us of the quiet strength and fierce love found across species.

Want to help support mums like Daisy and Tweedy—and all their sanctuary friends?
You can do that by:
✨ Donating: www.crosskennanlane.co.uk/donate
✨ Sponsoring an animal: www.crosskennanlane.co.uk/sponsor-an-animal

Your support helps us provide the food, shelter, vet care, and love these amazing animals need.

Happy Mother’s Day from all of us—and all of them—at Crosskennan Lane.

29/03/2025

Your Questions, Answered
What Happens When an Animal Arrives at the Sanctuary?

Every animal’s journey is different—but here’s what usually happens:

When an animal arrives, the first step is safety and assessment. If possible, we do a full health check. If they’re too scared, wild, or in pain, we give them time and space—some go straight to the vet, others stay on-site and are gently monitored until it’s safe to assess them.

Each animal then goes through a period of decompression—where they rest, adjust, and begin to feel secure. Some are only with us a few weeks. Others take much longer. There’s no rush. They set the pace.

They’ll receive:
• Health care: vaccinations, flea/worm treatment, vet assessments, dental and hoof care
• Microchipping and spay/neuter, where appropriate and safe
• Nutrition planning, especially for those under or overweight
• Behavioural support, including training, gentle exposure, and routines
• Handling and grooming, depending on species and tolerance

Once they’ve been assessed, we either begin looking for the right home or—if they’re not ready—we continue their care here.

Some will stay permanently. Some may be rehomed after months or even years. But whether they’re here for a while or forever—they’re home.

Have more questions?
We’re answering as many as we can throughout the weekend. Drop yours below or email us:
[email protected]

This your sanctuary too. The more you know, the more powerful your support becomes.

29/03/2025

What kind of animals do we care for?
How many are here right now?
Where do they come from?
Do they stay forever—or do they find new homes?

These are four of the most common questions we get—and the answers matter, because they’re at the heart of what we do.

We care for horses, ponies, donkeys, cats, dogs, chickens… and sometimes a few others too.
Right now, that’s over 100 animals in our care.

They come from everywhere—council pounds, welfare cases, abandonment, and situations where their humans simply couldn’t give them what they needed anymore.

Some stay just a short time.
Some are with us for months.
Some need sanctuary for life.

We assess each animal individually and do what’s best for them—not for convenience, not for numbers, not to tick boxes. Just what’s right.

This is their sanctuary.
This is your sanctuary too.

Stay tuned this weekend as we share real stories, behind-the-scenes insight, and answers to the questions people ask most. If you’ve got one—ask it. We’re listening.

28/03/2025

❤️ Thank you Grace! ❤️

We would like to say a huge thank you and warm farewell to second year veterinary student Grace, who finished her two week placement with us last week.

Grace came to the sanctuary with no experience of horses at all, but approached every day with a keenness to learn about our lovely residents and build a foundation of working with equines, which we hope will serve her well in her studies and beyond! 🐴

During a very busy period at the sanctuary it was brilliant to have an extra pair of hands. Grace got stuck in with the day to day yard work, and also formed a personal relationship with our mother and son donkey pair, Emily and Elijah. At the end of each day Grace gave the donkeys a bit of much needed TLC, which was not only enjoyable for them but also gave Grace a chance to practice her handling skills, and learn a bit about equine anatomy and common health problems.

At Crosskennan we love to welcome placement students from any relevant studies, and give them a chance to get involved in a busy yard, learning about animal behaviour and care through working with our sanctuary residents, many of whom have complex behavioural or health related needs. If you are interested in applying for a placement with us please feel free to send us an email.

28/03/2025

Let’s Talk – Your Questions, Our Answers
A Weekend of Videos, Stories & Honest Conversations

This weekend, we’ll be sharing a series of short videos and posts from around the sanctuary—giving you a real look at what we do, why we do it, and what life is like for the animals (and people!) here at Crosskennan.

We know people have questions.
And we want to answer them.

Because this is your sanctuary too.
Whether you’ve donated, adopted, volunteered, shared a post, or simply cared from afar—this space exists because of your support. And the more you understand the work, the more meaningful your support becomes.

Support isn’t one-size-fits-all.
Not everyone can donate. Not everyone can muck out stables or walk dogs.
But when you’re informed, you become part of the team in a new way—able to offer ideas, advice, kindness, and practical help that truly fits.

So, if you’ve ever wondered:
• How many animals we care for
• Why we ask for help
• What happens when animals arrive
• Or how you can really make a difference

Ask us.
Comment below or email us at:
[email protected]

We’ll try to answer as many questions as we can throughout the weekend in our posts and videos—sharing honest, behind-the-scenes insight into the realities of rescue.

Thank you for being part of this.
Let’s make the sanctuary stronger—together.

28/03/2025

We would like to thank Glenn Oakes from Caboodle Fundraising (website below) for all the valuable guidance and advice you have given us the past few months, especially at such a challenging time. Glenn has great knowledge and experience in Charity Fundraising and really cares about helping.

Caboodle is a Northern Ireland based fundraising consultant providing fundraising expertise for UK and Ireland charities and social enterprise.

27/03/2025

🙏THANKYOU 🙏😀

A BIG thankyou to all those who have donated in all the various ways and signed up for our Animals Helping People activities and other services, especially since launching our Urgent Video Appeal. Thankyou also to all our staff/volunteers who work so hard.

We are making great progress and just need to keep the momentum going to ensure we can keep being here for animals and people.

Please keep an eye out for updates and share amongst family/friends including all the services we offer.

You are all making a difference.

Crosskennan Lane Animal Sanctuary

rescue

Urgent message from Crosskennan’s Founder