Ananda Animal Sanctuary

18/01/2025

We've been a bit quiet on socials lately as one of our cats Darwin is going through a difficult time just now. For the last month he's been hospitalised twice on IV, on different meds, had ultrasound, blood work with no explanation of why he's not eating or drinking and therefore losing a significant amount of weight and very dehydrated.

It's been a worrying time not knowing what's causing this and the big C looming over as some cancers don't show up in blood work or scans. We've had him on a liquid diet for the last couple weeks (giving him it manually every couple of hours) to ensure he is getting the minimum calorie requirements and also syringing electrolytes to help with his hydration. Things were declining again and the steroids and antibiotics weren't having any effect so he was hospitalised again yesterday.

X-rays have now shown he has megacolon (distended colon) and faeces was backed up right through his colon and intestines. He got an e***a last night and repeat x-rays show all the faeces have passed out and the colon has reduced in size but it's highly likely it reoccurs and we may need to think about operating to remove the majority of his colon (our vets can't do this procedure so he would need referred). He's still not eating but he's on new meds to help the colon contract and help soften the faeces to pass through. He'll be in hospital for a few days to stay on the IV. The vets aren't sure if this is the primary issue or perhaps secondary to something else more hidden but time will tell.

We got to go and visit him today and he was purring away so happy for some familiar cuddles. We're staying hopeful and positive, Darwin is a strong boy and we'll do everything we can to get him through this 🐈‍⬛

17/01/2025

Not so much of a more like a little glow up! We think you look very handsome with you wool accessory Braemar ❤️

10/01/2025

This is Bruce’s ‘favourite’ person escaping his ‘affections’, there’s no hope for the rest of us!

09/01/2025

Our beautiful Hansel may not be with us any longer but he can still touch people's hearts and help make this a more compassionate world....feel such a sense of pride his beautiful face and soul is the poster boy for Veganuary with OneKind 💕🐐🌱

💚 It's January which means ... Veganuary! 🙌

💚 If you're interested in making animal-friendly swaps this January and onwards, check out our Compassionate Living webpage today🔗 https://www.onekind.org/Listing/Category/compassionate-living

💚 On our Compassionate Living page, you'll find plant-based recipes, helpful resources and informative blogs.

💚 If you're taking part in Veganuary this year, please get in touch via message or email [email protected] - we would love to hear from you!

07/01/2025

✨ Looking for a new year's resolution?

🏃🏽‍♀️ How about running 10k right here at the sanctuary for the animals 🙌🏼

We're so excited about this event Shari at Green Strides Fitness has worked tirelessly to organise to raise funds for Ananda 🙏🏼💚

Shari is trying to find a vegan food truck to come and sit at the sanctuary so you can come and get some refreshments and hang out at the sanctuary a bit before you head home. Any food trucks that see this and would like to join for the event, give us or green strides a shout 😊

All funds raised will go into the hen implant kitty 🐤

Undulating 10K rural road race suitable for all running abilities. Start/finish line in old church grounds. Finishers receive a medal and vegan-friendly goody bag. Vegan-friendly food/drink available.

03/01/2025

First fluffy butt of 2025 and it’s a cracker!

01/01/2025

What a gorgeous way to start 2025! ❄️

Barely any of our sheep gang in sight as they have all chosen to be in their shelter to stay cosy, quite right! ☺️ But it does make me sad thinking of all the sheep that don't have a shelter in this cold weather 🐑 There are even some lambs already being born near us! Those poor wee things out in this weather and a week of below freezing temperatures 😔

Hope you're all staying cosy ❤️

19/12/2024

I'm struggling to write this post, it's come as such a shock and we're all heartbroken 💔 Hansel is no longer with us 😔

Despite being 14 he showed no signs of slowing down and appeared happy and healthy yesterday. Roisin and Erika found him dead this morning in the riding arena 😭 He had taken himself away at bedtime rounds last night and hid in one of the shelters (which has plenty straw, hay and water around so he would have been comfortable) so I missed him which I feel terrible about but now I think about it maybe it's a good thing, this was his last wish, to pass in peace and quiet without the herd drama in the stables. He knew that was his last night with us and he made that decision to be alone so as much as it pains me and I feel so guilty for not noticing him not going to his usual bed, I'm trying to accept that this was what he wanted and needed. I know in my heart that even if he wanted to be alone physically in his final moments he certainly didn't feel alone in his heart! He became a completely different goat in the months after arriving at the sanctuary, from that shy depressed goat to a cuddle monster that loved a fuss! He 100% felt all our love and trusting us allowed him to be fully himself, feel safe and no longer feel alone, he had a herd and a human family by his side 💚

We asked the vets to do a post mortem to get answers but it seems like he just had a couple age related small things that the vet felt wouldn't have contributed to his death. The only question mark is around bruising to his lungs which the vet felt was perhaps due to his body freezing & thawing after he died but we don't know for sure. We're trying to take comfort in the fact he was just a very old goat that knew his time had come & he past quickly without a long downhill or battle with diseases etc.

He was our wee Handsome Hansel and will never be forgotten! ❤️🐐 It's going to take some time to get used to life without him, his beautiful face and his sweet high pitched bleat! ❤️

Right on cue Nyla has come and sat on my lap as she always does when she senses I'm crying! We really are surrounded by the most amazing animals! Makes it all the harder to say goodbye 😭

15/12/2024

Some of the amazing shots captured by Matthew 🥰

I knew our animals were the most gorgeous in the world but look at these!!! 🤩 They're amazing! He's got such an incredible eye and talent at capturing a moment 💖

There's a beautiful up close one of Bruce but I didn't want to give anyone a fright first thing in the morning 😂 We'll save that one for another time 😊

13/12/2024

Ananda Christmas Night Out 🎄😊

I sadly missed it as still ill with some viral chest infection but it looked like a great night and bowling 🥰

Our amazing team of dedicated volunteers that honestly work tirelessly in sometimes the most horrible weather! The animals are their priority, so come rain or shine, they're here every week making sure the animals have what they need 🙏🏽 I don't know what we would do without them!

Thank you guys for all your hard work this year 🙏🏽 Yous are amazing and the animals all love you! Well....maybe not Bruce 👀🙊🦃

12/12/2024

Thanks for all your kind words after the passing of Ryan Gosling 🙏🏽🪿 With all the screaming and cries from Willis while we had Ryan in the house we were quite worried how he'd cope 😔

But having that time with Ryan and realising he's passed has helped him come to terms with Ryan being absent from the flock and mourn. I've not heard him call out for him once today and the volunteers said he just made his usual declaration of freedom as he leaves the hut in the morning. He's stuck by Francis all day, thank goodness they have each other! 💚🪿

11/12/2024

We have some devastating news 😔

Ryan took a turn for the worse and we needed to help him pass 😢 Sometimes you have to fight for them even when they are struggling and other times you need to listen to them saying they're done and help ease their suffering. On this occasion it was the latter 😔

He was rescued from a neglect case at another sanctuary and has always had a neurological issue that he managed to cope with, with just a few wobbles and the help of his best pal Goose Willis as he was also partially sighted! Yesterday he wasn't wanting to get up and was shaking a bit so we brought him inside to get heated up, some electrolytes in him and some pain relief. There was a slight improvement last night but not much and he still wasn't eating. Today the vet felt his neuro condition had progressed to the point he had given up. It was always inevitable but we thought he had way more time.

We're heartbroken for him as after living in those horrible conditions we wanted him to have years of happiness to forget his past. Willis has been crying all day today screaming for his best friend so we've reunited them so he can see that he's gone and mourn. He's been silent since seeing his body. I'm so glad Willis has Francis as this is going to be such a hard loss for him, they've always been inseparable and had such a strong bond 💔

08/12/2024

🎄🤶🏽 Sheep Secret Santa 🤶🏽🎄

That fun time of year again where you can be Santa for the babies and get them all the goodies they want/need 😊

Last but not least, our longest resident at the sanctuarys turn to write to Santa for all her sheep pals 🐽💚

Here is the Amazon wishlist where you can find the gifts for everyone:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/hz/wishlist/ls/C0GMIODWGI7A?ref_=list_d_wl_ys_list_1

Each day we'll post a Santa Letter from one of the animals, a spokesperson for their pals 🥰

It's always a tough time of year logistically and financially so all your help is so appreciated 🙏🏽💚

Thank you everyone who has sent presents for the animals so far! We're so excited to open them all and show the animals. We'll do a video so you can see your gifts in action and their happy faces 🥰🙏🏽🦃🐖🐑🐄🐓🐤🦆🪿🐐

07/12/2024

🎄🤶🏽 Goats Secret Santa 🤶🏽🎄

That fun time of year again where you can be Santa for the babies and get them all the goodies they want/need 😊

Midnight and Storms turn to write to Santa for all their goat pals 🐽💚

Here is the Amazon wishlist where you can find the gifts for everyone:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/hz/wishlist/ls/C0GMIODWGI7A?ref_=list_d_wl_ys_list_1

Each day we'll post a Santa Letter from one of the animals, a spokesperson for their pals 🥰

It's always a tough time of year logistically and financially so all your help is so appreciated 🙏🏽💚

06/12/2024

🎄🤶🏽 Pigs Secret Santa 🤶🏽🎄

That fun time of year again where you can be Santa for the babies and get them all the goodies they want/need 😊

Rongo's turn to write to Santa for all his piggy pals 🐽💚

Here is the Amazon wishlist where you can find the gifts for everyone:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/hz/wishlist/ls/C0GMIODWGI7A?ref_=list_d_wl_ys_list_1

Each day we'll post a Santa Letter from one of the animals, a spokesperson for their pals 🥰

It's always a tough time of year logistically and financially so all your help is so appreciated 🙏🏽💚

05/12/2024

🎄🤶🏽 Birds Secret Santa 🤶🏽🎄

That fun time of year again where you can be Santa for the babies and get them all the goodies they want/need 😊

Watch out, Bruce is going next 🦃👀😅

Here is the Amazon wishlist where you can find the gifts for everyone:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/hz/wishlist/ls/C0GMIODWGI7A?ref_=list_d_wl_ys_list_1

Each day we'll post a Santa Letter from one of the animals, a spokesperson for their pals 🥰

It's always a tough time of year logistically and financially so all your help is so appreciated 🙏🏽💚

04/12/2024

🎄🤶🏽 Cows Secret Santa 🤶🏽🎄

That fun time of year again where you can be Santa for the babies and get them all the goodies they want/need 😊 It went so well last year, word has gotten around to the new residents and they can't wait!

Fergus is going first ❤️

Here is the Amazon wishlist where you can find the gifts for everyone:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/hz/wishlist/ls/C0GMIODWGI7A?ref_=list_d_wl_ys_list_1

Each day we'll post a Santa Letter from one of the animals, a spokesperson for their pals 🥰

It's always a tough time of year logistically and financially so all your help is so appreciated 🙏🏽💚

03/12/2024

We're a bit behind on updates and wanted to fill you guys in on what's been happening with our wee Nyla! 🐈‍⬛

About 5 weeks ago I spotted Nyla was hanging her tail one morning and in a lot of pain so I suspected it was broken and took her to the emergency vet on call. The vet couldn't feel a fracture or see any trauma/wounds so she was sent home with pain meds.

I then however started to smell something quite foul from her tail after a few days and what do you know, I found two huge puncture wounds badly infected with puss oozing out! It looked like it was from a dogs canine teeth. We were pretty disappointed the vet had missed this but mistakes happen (I was more annoyed at myself for not checking myself). We got her on antibiotics and cleaned the wound and dressed it.

It took a couple weeks for the wounds to fully heal and she still had no function of the lower part of her tail, dragging it and she was still in a bit of pain if something caused her tail to move. Having a feel myself I could have sworn it was broken so I asked one of the other vets to have a look and she agreed it felt broken and x-rays later confirmed this. She agreed amputation was the best thing to do for Nyla as it was causing her discomfort and she was at risk of getting it caught etc since she didn't have movement/control of it.

Rachel did an amazing job and the procedure went well, just a little slow coming round. Her tail has healed really well and we'll be taking the stitches out today or tomorrow 🙏🏽

We were worried about amputation as a tail is so important for a cat to balance and communicate with but she's pain free and much happier in herself since the amputation so it was definitely the right decision.

She's looks like a poor wee soul but she's taken it in her stride and still jumping up on everything and being a wee sook. Will start letting her go outside for short spells soon.

Steven is always saying I'm a tad over protective of wee Nyla so you can imagine what an over protective crazy mum I am now with her 👀🙈😅

P.s. that photo with her wee watery eyes is just the gel from the operation to keep her eyes moist (she's not crying lol).