Our mission
We rescue the most helpless of animals - the abandoned, the mistreated and the abused, and we help those whose owners are too ill to look after them. We aim to rehabilitate and rehome when we can and offer lifelong care and sanctuary to those with complex needs. We offer support to other organisations to ease the suffering of animals around the world.
The Hospice
The hospice is an animal sanctuary which rescues abused and neglected animals. It relies on donations from the kind-hearted public and every single donation makes a huge difference. Every penny raised is spent on what is needed to keep the animals safe, healthy and well fed: vet bills, food, sanctuary maintenance costs, and animal rescue. It is run by Elizabeth McDonagh with help from family and friends, and there is a large team of amazing volunteers who help behind the scenes and with the fundraising activities. Elizabeth’s love of animals and rescue began in 1996 at Stonehouse Animal Sanctuary, where the animals she cared for were pets, homeless, or needed nursing with lots of tender loving care.
Since then Elizabeth has worked tirelessly to provide a home, a place of safety and love to more than 1,000 animals that she has rescued over the years. She works with them, gives them comfort, warmth, love and security. Many of the animals have suffered such horrific abuse and beatings, and are so traumatised, that they cannot be rehomed. However, they will spend the rest of their lives at the four acre sanctuary under the dedicated care of Elizabeth. Other animals arrive broken in body or spirit, but Elizabeth works her magic on them and in an amazingly short time she puts them at ease and they start to trust again. Some animals heal and gain enough confidence to then be rehomed. When space is available the sanctuary also offers rescue places to older and less able animals that would otherwise be put to sleep. Many of these animals find homes with older or less able people who are looking for companionship but are often turned away by other charities.
The sanctuary is like a very large garden full of pets. The cats have chalets, and those that want to can roam the fields, barns and garden. The dogs have large compounds with open kennels, as well as access to spacious paddocks, and on or off lead exercise in the fields. The horses, donkeys, goats, sheep and pigs all enjoy the grazing fields, shelters and barns. The aviaries are a place of twittering contentment, as are the poultry walk in cages. All the animals at Penny Jones Animal Hospice are happy and content with freedom, space, food and love.
Penny Jones
The sanctuary was named after a wonderful lady called Penny Jones. Penny was a dog owner who became terminally ill and appealed for someone to look after her two beloved Border Collies when she needed to move to a hospice herself. Knowing that her much loved pets would be safe and cared for with Elizabeth, Penny began responding positively to the treatment she was receiving and she lived for another year. During that year Elizabeth was able to take the dogs to visit her and, when well enough, Penny could visit them at Elizabeth's home and spend valuable time with them.
Elizabeth recognised the need for permanent homes for the pets of other terminally ill people who, like Penny, faced additional distress over future provision for their animals - and that was the start of the sanctuary.
Elizabeth recognised the need for permanent homes for the pets of other terminally ill people who, like Penny, faced additional distress over future provision for their animals - and that was the start of the sanctuary.
Open Days
The Penny Jones Animal Hospice is open to the public twice a year for the Open Days, usually held in June and September each year. Visitors are invited to come and meet the animals, and also to visit Hethersgill Parish Hall nearby where a table-top sale is held to raise much needed funds.