Tower Hill Stables in Essex is at risk of shutting down due to dwindling donations and rising costs, leaving hundreds of animals in jeopardy
Asheldham: It’s tough out there for animal sanctuaries, especially in Essex. Tower Hill Stables is feeling the pinch big time. With costs skyrocketing and donations dropping, they’re in a real bind.
This sanctuary cares for around 400 rescued animals, and right now, they’re just a couple of months away from potentially closing their doors. Can you imagine? Hundreds of animals left without a home!
Martin Morgan, who co-owns the sanctuary with Fiona Oakes, shared how the cost-of-living crisis has hit them hard. He used to cover a lot of the costs himself, but since retiring, he’s struggling to make ends meet.
They need about £30,000 a month just to keep things running. That’s roughly £2 a day for each animal. With rising food prices, their financial cushion is getting thinner by the day.
Martin mentioned that if they can’t get more donations, they might have to sell the sanctuary. That’s a scary thought! Fiona is determined to keep it open, saying she’d close it “over her dead body.”
They’ve been working hard to raise funds. Fiona even ran 625 miles in December to gather support, but it only covered a fraction of their costs. They’re also encouraging people to use easyfundraising when shopping online to help boost their funds.
With over 1,000 supporters already, they’re hopeful that a few more could make a big difference. It’s all about keeping the sanctuary alive for those animals who depend on them.
