Hillside Animal Sanctuary {Helping and campaigning for animals in need}

The photograph of the pigs, and the one featuring several of Hillside's animals are linked to bigger versions. Photographs are courtesy of Hillside Animal Sanctuary.

NB: I'm a supporter of Hillside Animal Sanctuary, not a member of staff. If you want to make a donation or contact them, please use the information provided on this page or visit the website at http://hillside.org.uk/

The Sanctuary was founded in 1995 by Wendy Valentine to help animals in need, particularly those who suffer in the intensive factory farming industry. Hillside also conducts undercover investigations into the treatment of farm and factory animals.

Tours of the Sanctuary are allowed at certain times of the year, and self-catering holiday cottages are available for rent. Naturally, they're situated near a pub that offers a variety of vegetarian and vegan meals :)

Matilda was a 'pet pig' used for breeding for the meat industry. When she heard one of her piglets squealing, she perceived her owner, who was handling it, as a threat and attacked him; the owner planned to have her slaughtered, but later changed his mind and let Hillside take her and her daughter Sugar Plum.

Socks and Leah are two New Forest ponies; they arrived at Hillside as foals in poor condition. They were saved from transport to the continent for the illicit horsemeat trade, and had already spent some time traveling around the UK. Socks and Leah were fortunate; hundreds of British ponies are exported for the Black Market in countries such as France. This is due to a loophole in UK law, which means that ponies can be transported via Northern Ireland to the continent. Some horses are afforded special legal protection by the 'Minimum Value Order', which means that only horses over a certain value, (that aren't candidates for immediate slaughter), may be exported, but this doesn't apply to Northern Ireland. {I'm not sure how things stand now - April 2003}

Alice is a fifteen-year-old Dromedary, (one hump), Camel. She was put up for auction, and a well wisher donated the money Hillside needed to buy her. Despite the camels gentle nature, a 'Dangerous Wild Animals License' was needed for the sanctuary to keep her and if their bid hadn't been successful, she probably would've gone to a circus.

Alice is expected to live a long time, anywhere up to approximately 40 years old! And as Camels are herd animals, the sanctuary managed to find Alice a friend called Topsy.

I found out about Hillside though a small advert mentioning adoption as a way to help an animal charity. I liked the idea, so decided to take a change and send off for more information. When it came, it was only a £6 minimum fee for a years adoption, so I decided to adopt an ex racehorse called La Vizelle. I received an adoption certificate, with photograph, on the 2nd July 1998 and I've been a supporter ever since, giving money when I can. I also receive updates and photographs of La Vizelle every year, as well as the Hillside newsletter. The Sanctuary receives no government funding and relies on donations from the public.

Born: April 4th 1995
Rescued: August 1997

Sex: Mare
Height: 16 Hands
Colour: Bay
Nickname: Dawn {given by staff}

Mother: Queen of Erin
Father: Distinctly Northern
Grt. Grandfather: Mill Reef

Best Friend: Midnight

At two years old, before her body was mature enough to withstand extensive training, La Vizelle was put on the racetrack. After failing to show the necessary promise, she was taken to be sold at a racecourse. Another horse, Midnight, La Vizelle's companion at Hillside, didn't even make it into a race, his legs buckled during training. At his disposal sale he didn't make the reserve low price. Without Hillside's intervention, both horses would've been sent to the slaughterhouse. This happens to thousands of young horses every year that don't make the racing grade.

To find out more about the Sanctuary and the animals it homes, please visit the Hillside website.

NB: I'm a supporter of Hillside Animal Sanctuary, not a member of staff. If you want to make a donation or contact them, please use the information provided on this page or visit the website at http://hillside.org.uk/