Last walk for dogs at Easterleigh

Marc Cartmell with Denzel as he leaves Easterleigh Animal Sanctuary due to its closure

Easterleigh Animal Sanctuary in St Annes will close the gates to its Queensway Park Farm site for good on March 31.

The sanctuary’s last remaining residents were taken from their pens on Saturday and Sunday and transferred to dog kennels across the Fylde coast, where they will continue to be supported by Easterleigh.

Denzel the eight-year-old Bordeux and JD the Cocker Spaniel were just two of the several remaining dogs who had to say goodbye to their home.

JD leaves Easterleigh Animal Sanctuary due to its closure

Mandy Leigh, chairwoman of Easterleigh Animal Sanctuary, said: “They all took it very well. We did three trips to kennels in Freckleton and one trip to one in St Annes.

“I’ve kept on three staff who will be taking care of the dogs until they get rehomed. It’s not going to be an over- night thing because some of them can be naughty little devils!

“It’s going to cost us a good £1,000 a month to keep them where they are, but hopefully once we get started every-body will settle down into a routine everything will be OK.”

She added that the sanctuary’s other residents – a host of cats, dogs, small animals, and even pot-bellied pigs – are now, happily, settling in to new homes.

She said: “The pigs went to a little farm in North Yorkshire and they’re walking around as if they own the place, so they’re not missing us at all.

“I’m determined I’m not going to give it up.

“If we can find a kennels or cattery with grazing land, that’s all we need.”

Call (01253) 595333 if you can help.