Wythall animal charity hunt for new site after break-in

Last October, Fur and Feathers Animal Sanctuary in Wythall was vandalised after a break-in.

Pens were ripped open; glass was smashed and animals were missing but luckily nothing was stolen.

Fur and Feathers Animal Sanctuary care for a number of animals. (Image: Fur and Feathers Animal Sanctuary.)

The missing animals were eventually found and thanks to a huge community effort the material damage was fixed, but volunteers at the charity want to relocate.

Roma Crookes, one of three trustees at the animal sanctuary, said they don’t feel safe anymore and are looking for a new premises.

She said: “We are all women that volunteer here and with our evening volunteers, there will only be one person on shift so it can be pretty scary.

A lot of damage was caused during the break-in. (Image: Fur and Feathers Animal Sanctuary.)

“After the break-in we don’t feel safe here.”

However, the hunt is proving to be difficult as the site the charity is looking for is ‘quite niche’.

Roma said ideally their new premises would be in the local area, with mains electricity, space for volunteer accommodation and running water.

The team also need to raise enough funds to facilitate the move.

“We don’t know how much money we need to raise, as we haven’t got a site in mind yet," added Roma.

“At the minute every penny counts.”

There are also fears that the sanctuary’s current site may be developed into a housing estate.

The charity is concerned that the site could be allocated in the next Local Plan Review, although no details have been confirmed at this stage.

Roma added: “Our tenancy agreement with the landowner runs out in March so we are hoping to find a new place by then.

“We want to be in a place where we know we can be for years.”

To donate to the sanctuary’s fundraising page visit: https://www.gofundme.com/f/fur-and-feathers-get-to-their-new-home.