Easterleigh Plea For Homes For Animals

A Lancashire animal sanctuary has received an eviction notice and must leave the premises by the end of March.

17:20 03 February 2016

Easterleigh Animal Sanctuary in St Annes has been hit with an eviction notice and is now racing against time to re-home more than 30 animals. The sanctuary is given until the end of March to leave after a year-long tenancy row.

 

The charity is trying to re-home eight horses, 25 dogs, three pigs and one cat. Mandy Leigh, the owner of the sanctuary who vowed that none of the animals will be put down, said: “It’s heartbreaking, time is running out.”

 

"It's terrible, very upsetting, but the fight is on and we are determined.

 

"I'm not going to give up after 20 years and I absolutely promise not one animal will be put to sleep.

 

"I have never done that and I'm not going to start now."

 

The sanctuary is staffed by eight employees and has re-homed 22,000 animals in the past 20 years.

Mrs Leigh, 67, added: "We tried to buy the sanctuary without any success.

 

"We thought we would have more time to get out, but we've been told we have to be out by the end of March.

 

"We are trying not to panic and we will get every animal sorted one way or another.

 

"It's so upsetting. Some of the staff have been with me for more than 10 years. We'll get a new place eventually, but we need to find homes for these animals now.

"We need money. If we have to put animals in kennels or stables, it will all have to be paid for."