Last updated at 14:13, Monday, 23 November 2009

A PENSIONER who runs a bird refuge in Barrow is appealing for people and organisations not to take any more injured animals to her home because she can’t afford to feed them.

PLEA FOR HELP: Pat Denny, of the Hawcliffe Bird Sanctuary, in Hawcoat, with a blind rook

Pat Denny, 66, says the cost of feeding the birds and maintaining the Hawcliffe Bird Sanctuary she created in her bungalow garden, means she can’t afford to help any more animals, at least for now.

It is likely she will shut it permanently and just look after the injured birds, ducks and hedgehogs she already has.

Miss Denny has 40 permanently injured ducks and birds at the sanctuary which she has to keep feeding, but has run so low on money for the animals and for housekeeping that she has to now stop taking any more.

She has run the sanctuary for about 10 years but reached a crisis early in June when she ran out of money and had just £10 left in her bag.

Kind Evening Mail readers rallied and gave around £2,000 to help her out, including one kind reader who anonymously left £1,000 in cash for Mrs Denny at the Evening Mail.

But the support did not continue and, with food and other bills costing £100 a week, the money has run out again.

Now Miss Denny said she won’t be able to open the sanctuary again unless she can find an organisation, organisations or individuals willing to sponsor her on a permanent basis.

The last animal she took in was an injured swan that had its leg broken by a bus in Salthouse Road. The swan was then operated on for free at Church Walk Veterinary Centre in Crellin Street and brought to her by the police. She has also just taken in some orphaned baby hedgehogs that she says need care and feeding before being released into the wild.

Miss Denny said: “I have just run out of money. I’ve spent every penny I have saved on them but I have got to this age and I have no money.”

She added: “People might bring a bird and leave me £20 but that does not go very far.”

Vets, the police and the RSPCA all bring animals to recuperate with her, as well as members of the public.

Any organisations or individuals willing to discuss regular sponsorship schemes with Pat to help keep the sanctuary going can speak to her on 01229 826722.

First published at 12:58, Monday, 23 November 2009
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk