News

Fluff Ball Tickets on Sale

Friday February 3rd 2012

Held on Friday 11th May at Liverpool Marina, the event will be raising funds for both Freshfields Animal Rescue Centre and AFC Liverpool. Tickets are priced at £50 and the evening will consist of a three course meal, entertainment from David Johnson and comedienne Pauline Daniels and a DJ with a late bar till 1 a.m. There will also be a raffle and an auction.

http://www.fluffball2012.com 

Paranormal Event in aid of Freshfields Wales

Friday January 27th 2012

Be part of the team and be a paranormal investigator for a night of ghost hunting, in the quest for evidence of paranormal activity in, reportedly, some of the most haunted buildings in Gwynedd and North Wales and raise money for local charities.

Join me for a night that could possibly change your life forever as we go in search of evidence of life after death. We will investigate possible spirit activity such as knocking, cold breezes and dark shadows that cannot be explained. We will attempt glass divination and participate in table tipping experiments. We will also use some ghost hunting equipment including; beam barrier alarms, latest technology in EVP (Electronic Voice Phenomena) recording and more.

Overnight Paranormal Investigation in a well documented Tudor Manor House near Dolgellau, now currently being used as a Hotel. The cost will include; Overnight Paranormal Investigation, tea, coffee and refreshments and light snacks throughout the night. Total cost for all this will be £35 per person.....and remember, net proceeds will be donated to Freshfields! You can get your ticket by visiting my Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/#!/events/217692518304864  or on my website http://www.gwyneddparanormalinvestigations.com

Freshfields supporter doing pet portraits

Tuesday January 10th 2012

Carrie Roberts one of our long time supporters does pet portraits and will make a donation for every one comissioned

www.rainbowpoppy-petportraits.co.uk

Free Wills Available for Three Lucky People!

Wednesday January 4th 2012

FREE WILL WRITING AVAILABLE
On Thursday January 12th a representative from the Will Writing Guild will be spending the day in Freshfields Southport book shop. Free advice will be available for those persons interested in having a will professionally prepared and FREE WILL WRITING will be available to THREE PEOPLE who subsequently make an appointment with the guild. Why not pop along to Wesley Street on the day and find out how you could benefit from having your will professionally prepared?

Female Lurcher Thrown Over Fence at Liverpool Shelter

Wednesday December 21st 2011

Meet Jade.

Jade was literally thrown over the front fence of the Liverpool shelter on Sunday evening (more acurately the early hours of Monday morning). Our CCTV system filmed a car pulling up well after midnight. The driver got out of the vehicle, very quickly opened the boot of the car, reached in and grabbed the dog and in an almost fluid motion launched her over the front gate without any care or consideration of what might might be on the other side for this beautiful girl to land on. He then jumped back into his car and drove away without a backward glance. Unfortunately the CCTV footage is not clear enough to read the numberplate on the vehicle or to distinguish a face. Luckily for Jade some of the staff who work at the rescue had been out for a meal at the Jade Gardens (hence the name Jade for the little dog) in Southport to celebrate a friends birthday which meant the final night time checks at the rescue were carried out a little later than usual. If they hadn't been this terrified little dog would have been out all night in the wet and cold in a place she didn't know.

The only positive about this is that the dog wasn't abandoned on the road or taken to a vet to be destroyed, however it needs to be made absolutley clear that this callous action is NOT an acceptable way to rid oneself of a problem!  The sad reality is that many people are on our waiting lists needing to rehome pets and jumping the queue by dumping an animal is not a solution that is acceptable for anyone.  Not only is it terrifying for the animal but it puts the struggling rescue centres under incredible strain.  It's worth noting that Jade's owner though quite capable of throwing her over the fence wasn't also capable of throwing over an envelope full of money to assist with her upkeep!

Lamas Saved from Slaughter in Wales!

Monday December 19th 2011

At 10am this morning Phoebe and her horsebox set off to collect the four unwanted LLamas which were no longer wanted by their callous owner and in danger of losing their lives. Usually we telephone Phoebe when we need horses and ponies transporting but this was a first for her. Never having dealt with this species before, she was well out of her comfort zone but the animals were safely boxed and just after 11 am they arrived at their temporary home which is just a few minutes from the shelter.
Mei and Lesley were waiting for their arrival with feelings of trepidation, they had received a call from Phoebe saying that the llamas were totally wild and unused to being handled. This filled them with a great deal of apprehension. Angie (their foster mum) had been good enough to offer a safe haven for the animals but if they were wild, what had Freshfields landed them with. Those questions  were whirling round when the horse box pulled up and then all of a sudden there they were - four very bewildered LLamas huddling together for comfort.

Our hearts went out to them, they needed little encouragement to leave the trailer and make their way on to the field. You can see on one of the photos, Mei peering nervously round the side of the trailer, The four came out quietly and slowly walked across the field looking around them all the time as though working out what sort of a place they had been brought to. They seemed to approve and made their way across the field to the stream.

As soon as they reached it,they started to drink ...and drink ....and drink.They were so very thirsty. Their coats were dirty and quite matted, they did not seem to have been clipped for several years and one has a deformed foot and a cut on his leg. After slaking their thirst they started to potter round the field and by the time I left seemed to be settling down nicely. Fosterer Angie and her husband have 7 pet Alpacas so are used to camelids(collective term for these animals)
These boys have now been named Noel, Santa, Blitzen and Elf ( as it is so close to Christmas in case nobdy grasped that fact!)

It cost Freshfields £95 in transportation fees to rescue these boys, worth every penny but we have to supply them with Hay and Coarse Mix for the forthcoming winter months so if anyone locally can donate a few bales of hay, it will be gratefully accepted. We also have to figure out how to worm them so Angie will be giving them small feeds to entice them to come to her and hopefully she will be able to mix in the wormer with the feed though if they are anything like horses they will immediately recognise that there is something unpleasant in the food and spit it out! Its worth a try.At this stage I have no idea how long it will take to win their trust but at least they are in the hands of people with some expertisein this type of exotic animal.
Then of course I have to find them a permanent home but for now they need to settle down and we need to get them in better condition.

These poor boys were being offered free to anyone who would take them via the freecycle online site , and the attitude of the owner was quite appalling. There was no interest in where they might end up , whether they were likely to be slaughtered for their meat, no interest whatsoever. I am sure when they first arrived as babies, they were made a great fuss of, but now at age 10 years they are surplus to requirements. Initially I was unsure all 4 would be able to fit in the horse trailer and I asked the owner of we could take 2 and return Tuesday for the other two but NO, he was adamant that if any were there on Monday they would be shot. It has been a worrying few days but all can sleep easy tonight knowing they are safe from harm.

The LLama rescue in South Wales, although they were unable to take them (they have 20 plus there) have been very helpful with information I might need for the day to day the care of them and they will be looking out for a home for them also. I am so pleased to have placed them in a knowledgeable home(albeit short term) and feel confident that Angie and her family will be able to cope.

All in all a very busy and fulfilling day for animals and humans.

Here Come The BOYS !

Tuesday December 13th 2011

It was at approximately 7pm this wet, windy and very dark Monday evening when Steve our Liverpool Farm Manager arrived back at the rescue from his gruelling trip to Northamptonshire to collect the latest farm residents seeking sanctuary with us.

Kune Kune pigs Brian, Arthur and Harold are 3 of the boars from part of a group of ten (boars and sows) that had been used for breeding purposes.  There is quite a market for Kune Kune's and these intelligent and beautiful animals can turn a hefty profit for the indiscriminate breeder whose main interest in not the welfare of the pigs but cash in the pocket.  The breeder who owned Brian, Arthur and Harold had lost interest in the hobby or business for whatever reason and had left the 10 animals to fend for themselves in their field.  It was only the concerns of passers by (who were also the only people bothering to feed these poor creatures) that brought things to a head.  The neglect had become obvious cruelty and the farmer was contacted. His response... to state all the pigs (some of whom were pregnant) would be slaughtered in two weeks time unless homes could be found!!!

So in stepped Clive from Brook Farm Animal Sanctuary to co-ordinate the rescue and offer temporary housing to all until other rescues/homes could come forward and share the burden.  We are happy to be able to say ALL the pigs and piglets have found sanctuary although we are told that some were in such a state of neglect that their ribs and pelvis were visible through their skin.

Brian, Arthur and Harold are safe at Freshfields and opportunities to sponsor them will become available in the new year. All three are gentle, friendly and inquisitive pigs and are happily exploring their new surroundings.

They are also incrdibly cute as the photo's prove!

Generous people in St Helens

Saturday December 10th 2011

A massive thank you to Colette, Fiona and Hilary to did a bag pack in M & S St Helens on Friday 9th December.  We raised an amazing £530.40!  We could have done more as they had 5 tills open at some stages.  Does anyone want to help us next time?  We were exhausted but had a great time and everyone was very friendly.  Contact Jane 07799 582917 or jane@freshfieldsrescue.org.uk if you want to get involved. 

Sean up for rehoming

Tuesday December 6th 2011

We now have a giant rabbit available for rehoming - it's costing us too much to feed him at the rescue!  He's quite handy at moving stuff and is able to drive.  Serious enquiries only please!!!