Bundles in January 2015 - Bundles one month later

Gwenni was surrendered to the Sanctuary after her human could no longer look after her due to her own failing health. Gwenni's eye was crusted shut with debris and pus and had been like it for many months. She had also been living in a dark room for 6 months without any company. After a neighbour intervened and enquired about the eye, she was told that a vet had said there was nothing they could do and that Gwenni (then unnamed but we named her once we met her) would 'either live or die". Well lucky for Gwenni that she lived despite the goop that had crusted her eye shut. We were told that she didn't have an eye. We took Gwenni to our vet, one in particular named Kim who specialises in birds, put Gwenni under a light anaesthetic and cleaned her up. She had a third eyelid infection and is now being treated for it with twice daily antibiotic cream. In the space of 2 weeks Gwenni is improving dramatically and she now sits in the lounge room and sings and talks to us. Gwenni also has a new home to go to once she has fully healed where she will live with another bird of her kind and have a large flight area.

Oliver the day we found him near death. He had to be syringe fed as he had all but given up
Oliver 3 weeks later, treated for worms, fleas and antibiotics for any infections. As can be seen he has blossomed and put on weight.

Rhubarb used to be fearful. Rhubarb never stops smiling now.

Sweetpea used to have chronic tear duct infections. Much happier now her eye has been surgically removed.

Lucas-Bear when he arrived March 2011. Lucas-Bear June 2011.

CheekyChops as she was at the shelter. CheekyChops as she is now at the Sanctuary.

Naughtytrousers as he was at the shelter. CC (left) and NT (right) in late February 2011.

Mialto the day after she arrived 2008. Mialto in January 2011.

Wims when she arrived in February 2011 with scaly face. Wims May 2011 her scaly face has been successfully treated .

Katie as we found her in 2007, she had been left unattended for several months and had jumped into an area that had no food or water. She was skin and bones when we found her and she was also unable to moo as she had lost her voice trying to get attention. We arranged with her owners to take both her and Roxy and they have been living with us ever since.

Katie December 2010, with her good friend Milton

Sophie in 2008 when she arrived she had urine scald on her fur and legs from being kept in a dirty cage.

Sophie 2011, her yellow fur is long gone as is the pink skin that had been irritated and "scalded" from lying in urine.

Applesauce 2009 after she was rescued

Applesauce January 2011

Angry and another rooster were dumped on a property in the Hobart region. The people who then looked after them noticed that Angry was missing a large number of feathers and all of his tail feathers. He was scared of humans and appeared to the people to be ‘angry’. Unfortunately they were unable to keep both roosters due to the noise and asked Big Ears to take them, The picture was taken in February 2011

The second picture was taken June 2011 and already the difference is evident, not only in feather growth but he is not worried by human interaction now.

Connor when he first went into foster care 2010. Connor January 2011.

The Sanctuary welcomed Connor to the family all the way from NSW. He has had a terrible start to life involving starvation and physical abuse. Here is Connor's story.

Connor was surrendered to the RSPCA in the Hunter Valley NSW. A volunteer named Helen describes Connor.

Connor only had a day or so to go before he was euthanaised. thank you so much for keeping in touch - I just can't believe he has so much hair now. You can not imagine how he looked when I saw him in his kennel at the RSPCA - just skin and bone and about 10 centimetres wide in the hip. Ghastly. If ever a dog needed a second chance it's Connor.

Helen contacted a foster carer named Pauline and she rehabilitated Connor for 3 months. When he arrived at Pauline’s he weighed 15 kilograms (he had put on 4 kilos at the RSPCA).

Connor was further described

Connor's past has been a sad one, severely neglected, starved and ill treated this beautiful looking shepherd came into care from an animal shelter in Sydney.

Connor came to his carer emaciated, flea ridden and with sunken eyes and the poorest coat we have ever seen and weigh in at 15 kilos. He was within days of not surviving

After 3 months in foster care Connor weighed 30 kilos and was ready to find a forever home.

Connor now calls Big Ears home and is settling into a life full of love. He has taken to the comforts of life with great enjoyment, sleeping inside most of the day and night. He is always ready for a meal and then likes to spend his evenings on the couch with me cuddling.

The good news doesn’t end there. As a result of all the wonderful work that went into rehabilitating Connor and finding him a new home, the RSPCA at the Hunter Valley has scheduled a meeting to look at setting up a “Rehabilitation Unit” to save more of the ‘Connors’ that come into the facility.

Harry 2007 - Harry 2011

Annie in March/April 2011 after being rescued from death row in Mildura by Brightside. Picture courtesy of Brightside.

Annie in May 2011, learning to adjust to life full of love and comfort.

Kelly 2008 - Kelly 2011

Major Tom 2009 - Major Tom 2011

Twiggy 2009 - Twiggy (mum cat) 2011

Clarence 2008 - Clarence 2011 (and 80 kilos lighter)

Pebbles 2010 - Pebbles 2011

Humphrey as the small kitten we had to bottle rear (after being dumped and left to die) 2008

Humphrey 2011

Pretzel was caught at the sanctuary in January 2015. She was very feral and unbeknown to us she was pregnant. Pretzel had four kittens in February 2015, named Chloe, Zoe, Abby and Chilli.