Arrival

Life at the Hospice

Many injured, abused and sick animals come into the sanctuary from within the UK and, more recently, from abroad too. Many are both mentally and physically scarred; some have been abandoned and left for dead; others are neglected and abused, or owners have sadly passed away or have themselves moved into a hospice, leaving pets confused and frightened.

Every animal gets a second chance

With so many animals to care for, the hospice has formed a good working relationship with the local vets (Eden Vets) who understand the distress that many of the animals arrive in. Some of the animals have horrific injuries and untreated fractures which require surgery. Together, working as a team with the vets, we work hard to ensure that the animals are in the best of health, both mentally and physically. Many people have come to recognise Elizabeth as she makes regular trips to the vets in the old hospice Hugmobile (van!), which is usually fully laden with animals, animal feed, or both! At any time there are at least 100 animals to be cared for, including aviaries of rescued birds and poultry. Every single animal gets a second chance, no matter what baggage they arrive with. Whether they bite, or crawl into a corner and shake with fear, require physiotherapy or surgery, or are so unwell that they need hand feeding - they are ALL given time, love and patience, and they learn that they are safe from abuse and can live happily ever after.

Bugy

Bugy was financed by a lady who wasn't in good health so couldn't look after a dog but wanted to save a Romanian dog from the horrendous shelter.

He had been in this hell-hole forever and was scared of life. Pure fear made him aggressive so no-one could get near him or he would bite.

The look on his face said he was scared but all he really wanted was to be loved, and he is, very much so.

His confidence has grown and now he has become cheeky and playful and loves all his playmates.

Jerry

Jerry was left on the door step in a cardboard box with a note on it stating that they had found him as a stray and didn't know what else to do with him.

He was suffering severe pain in his eyes. One eye had to be removed and he is blind in the other one, but it hasn't slowed him down any. He's full of fun and cheeky.

Jethro

Jethro is now a big boy. We rescued his Mum, Lucy, around eighteen months ago, without knowing Jethro would soon appear on the scene. As Lucy grew wider, we waited in anticipation. This is him now!

Kalif

Kalif was one of a litter of puppies born and living on the streets until one day he and his brother were hit by a car - the driver drove off leaving them for dead.

Two women found them but Kalif's brother had died so they took Kalif home and offered him food and water, but he was too badly injured to eat. His back legs were extremely swollen and he could not move so they took him to the clinic.

X-rays revealed multiple fractures of both his hips and legs.

They operated on him but because his back legs were now so deformed his chances of being rehomed were very slim so his future was bleak.

He now lives with us and is a very happy, boisterous, cheeky boy with his past well behind him.

Lassie

This lovely, little girl is Lassie. She is about 6 years old and was born in Wales. For the first three years of her life she was kept locked in a barn so the whole of her puppyhood was spent running round in circles inside a building.

Eventually she was rehomed but, as she had never interacted with anyone or anything, she was nervous and frightened which made her aggressive.

Sadly she was unwanted and ended up at a behaviourist for a month but in all that time the behaviourist could not touch her.

A friend who works with Border Collies took her but after 6 months classed her as unhomeable.

She is here now to chill out and spend the rest of her days playing happily with her friends running in the fields.

Lassie can have as long she needs to come around - after her terrible start in life she deserves a chance.

Millie

Millie was one of five dogs rescued from unmentionable torture in Ireland at the beginning of 2014.

They were in such a bad state that two had to be put to sleep, one was rehomed separately and the other two came here. They were so terrified that when approached they would freeze in terror.

Both weighed only about 12kg. Mille had been bred from and was going to be put to sleep at her previous rescue.

Very sadly, one died, but Millie has now made friends with the resident collies and loves to play with them.

She is so very much loved but will bite strangers, so she will live out her life here with those she loves, trusts and feels happy with.

Mouse

Mouse was seven months old when a woman found her: she had disabled back legs and could not move.

She was taken straight to the hospital where they X-rayed her and found that her spine had been broken about three or four months previously.

Poor Mouse could not walk; no one knows how she had survived all that time without being able to move.

She was terrified, racked with pain, peed herself with fear and tried to bite everyone that came near.

She was looked after in the clinic for a week.

When she came to us it took a while to gain her trust and help her to become the happy little girl she is now. Running about (in her own fashion) with all her friends.

Mura

Mura is about eight years old and came from the enclosure in the public shelter in Romania.

Her eye was so very badly injured that she had to go to the clinic but they could not save it and it had to be removed.

She was now classed as 'disabled' so her chances of finding a loving home were just about nil.

She is very sweet and tolerates other dogs well but is still so very scared.

When she arrived here she was slightly aggressive but now she enjoys running in the fields, lots of cuddles and playing with her friends.

Nadia

When Nadia was a young puppy she lived on a farm in Ireland. Unfortunately a tractor ran over her front legs, breaking them both.

Because she was unable to move about properly she was thrown into a barn and left, in horrendous pain, to mend without either a vets examination or medication.

The bones in her legs eventually knitted together but were very twisted, making her unable to walk, so they put her into a pound.

No one wanted her with her disability so she was passed from pound to pound until she eventually ended up in the UK. She did not deserve to be passed on any more so I went and brought her here.

She has had her left leg operated on and had plates inserted as it was 20 degrees out (her right one was 48 degrees out!)

Now after intensive treatment she runs, digs, and enjoys catching up on the puppyhood she never had.

Peppa the Pig!

Peppa is a bundle of mischief! She loves having her back scratched and for you to chase her... then off she goes, grunting excitedly!

Rosie

Rosie was rescued in from Romania where for the last few years she had been chained up "for her own good"!

In the last eight years she has suffered many terrible things including a huge trauma to her head, which now has a dent in it. She also has a bent neck, one ear duct is calcified, she is blind in one eye, and unfortunately she has been left slightly brain damaged.

Rosie is so scared of everything she didn't dare move at all.

She couldn't be left to live in this miserable existance for the rest of her life.

Now the chains and pain have gone and she is enjoying her freedom running down the fields with her new friends.

Rudie

The little black dog in the picture is Rudie: He and Jerry are very best friends.

Rudie was seven months old when he was found by the SSPCA. He was so weak and poorly he could hardly stand and was terrified of everything. Luckily he met Jerry and they became inseparable.

Love has no age limit

Following the rehabilitation and care of the animals, some pets (mostly dogs) are later rehomed. Many of the animals are in their senior years of life but these find perfect homes amongst people who are frequently (but not always) senior citizens themselves. Many charities will not allow animals to be adopted by senior citizens or people with disabilities - however, here at Penny Jones Animal Hospice, Elizabeth recognises the importance of bringing all types of people and animals together, no matter their age or difficulties. Together, many very special relationships are formed, sharing love, warmth and companionship.

Toto the Amabassadog for Penny Jones Animal Hospice, Hethersgill, CARLISLE running freely