Running a sanctuary takes more than pats, cuddles and kisses. It also takes a lot of money. As a not for profit registered charity we rely on the goodwill of those who care about animals. Every day expenses include feed, shelters, medication, cleaning, veterinary assistance, and fencing. These costs add up and any donation, no matter how big or small, will help the animals. We are a No Kill Sanctuary which means that animals that are not suitable to be re-homed, or have special needs stay here for the remainder of their lives.
Sponsorship does not cover the full cost of caring for the animals, nor does it take into account their feeding costs. It is with this in mind that Big Ears encourages the animals to be sponsored by more than one sponsor.
We understand that an upfront payment doesn’t suit everybody so for less than most people spend on coffee you can choose ongoing monthly payments from as little as $5.00 per month.
Sponsors are sent a laminated certificate with the name and photo of the sponsored animal thanking them for their sponsorship as well as a Big Ears sticker.
Big Ears would really love some corporate sponsorship to help with ongoing costs. 100% of all donations is spent on the animals – there are no wages paid, all staff are volunteers.
Sniggers was surrendered on the 3rd August 2019. He was approx. 5 years old and had been kept in a shed. His diet had been poor and he was scared of all other animals. Sniggers went to the vet on the 5th August where his leg was x-rayed showing no break. It was revealed that the ‘bent leg’ was most likely a congenital growth defect that although looked awful, was actually causing no pain. There was no swelling or heat detected. His leg should have been splinted when he was a lamb. His temp, teeth and health were great although he was obese.
Sniggers has now adapted to a suitable diet for sheep, he has had his vaccinations, hoof trim, drenched, back lined and has now been shorn.
Sponsorship of Sniggers is $100.00 upfront for 12 months or just $10 a month. Sponsorship will go towards his drench, hoof trimming and shear.
Cotton came to Big Ears in June 2019 after her owners had to flee a family violence situation. Cotton is now safe with us and has happily settled in. She has now been vet checked, de-sexed, vaccinated, wormed and flea treated. She has completed her time in quarantine and is now ready to go on bunny dates to find her perfect match. Once matched she will live with her partner in an outside pen.
Sponsorship of Cotton is $50.00 upfront for 12 months or just $5.00 a month. Sponsorship goes goes towards her parasite controls and twice yearly vaccinations.
Adam the goat arrived at Big Ears on the 19th October 2018. He had been dumped in the bush down a forestry track in north west Tasmania. His kind rescuer called him Adam and contacted us for his relocation.
He is always the first to greet us at the gate with a big toothy grin.
You can sponsor Adam for $100.00 for 12 months or choose to give a monthly donation for just $10.00 a month. Sponsorship goes towards his health checks, nail trims and regular worming.
Maria Rita was found on the side of the road on a cold Monday night at the beginning of September 2018. The police officer that found her thought it might just be a matter of putting her back over the fence with her flock. When he shone his torch over the fence there was no flock in sight and no nearby farm house. He called Big Ears and we picked her up and started her on the bottle.
She has been an absolute pleasure and one of the healthiest lambs we have had the pleasure to raise. She needs to have a surgical removal of her tail as it is much more humane than banding the tail.
Sponsorship of Maria Rita is $100.00 upfront for 12 months or just $10 a month. Sponsorship will go towards her drench, hoof trimming and shear.
Little Bonk was found in the middle of the road on a rainy day at the end of May. He was shivering in the rain when a kind lady stopped for him as other cars were driving around him. When he was brought to the sanctuary he was covered in flea’s, dehydrated and really hungry. He survived the night so we thought he was a fighter.
Bonk was treated for fleas and worms and passed the biggest worm we had ever seen come out of a rabbit. It took him ages to begin to eat grass and he was bottle fed by Jacqui for two months.
Bonk has grown into a lovely little boy and now lives in his outdoor paddock.
You can sponsor Bonk for $50.00 for 12 months upfront or choose to give a monthly donation of just $5.00 a month ongoing.
Sponsorship goes towards his vet checks, parasite medications and his twice yearly vaccinations.
Shade was rescued from a breeder of meat rabbits. She had gone to the breeder’s as her owner could no longer afford to care for her but the owner had second thoughts about the placement and bought Shade back several weeks later.
When collecting Shade from the breeder’s the original owner noticed that Shade now had a rear leg deformity that was not there previously. Shade was surrendered to Big Ears in 2016 and x-rays revealed that Shade’s leg had been doubly dislocated. She had been living in filthy conditions and no medical care had been sought for her leg.
Veterinary advice was that the dislocations were too old to repair as the muscle and ligament had reformed around the strange position of Shade’s leg. It was not causing any pain or suffering and Shade was very mobile but with a strange gait.
Shade lives with her bunny boyfriend Bicci and copes well with her disability.
You can sponsor Shade for $50.00 for 12 months or choose to give a monthly donation of just $5.00 a month.
Sponsorship goes towards her vet checks, parasite medications and her twice yearly vaccinations.
