THE force behind an upper Gaunless Valley animal sanctuary says she is “gutted” because health problems mean she has to scale back the operation and let many of the animals go.
Pat Kingsnorth, who has run the Ark On The Edge centre, near Woodland, for the past 16 years says she can no longer cope with the workload.
The move away from Wooley Hills Farm to a smaller premises in the village has already begun.
Ms Kingsnorth has had surgery on her one arm and will soon have an operation on the other.
She said: “I am desperately upset and gutted. If it wasn't for my health I would have stayed but I can’t. It is sad because we can’t take everything. Nothing will be put to sleep. It either comes with us or it gets a new house.”
Ms Kingsnorth will be returning to the site where the initial centre was originally based – in the village itself.
So far the centre’s goats have found a new home and two aviaries containing kestrels, barn owls and tawny owls have been relocated. The last two aviaries are due to be moved soon.
Only two horses, a donkey and a Shetland pony, will be moving back to the site in the village where Ark on the Edge was started when Ms Kingsnorth moved up to Woodland from the south.
All of the many cats, rabbits and guinea pigs are also to be re-homed.
Ms Kingsnorth said she will be devastated when the centre’s three foxes are moved. They have already found a new home, but the difficult task will be moving their pen. She called on volunteers to help.
She said: “We need DIY people to help take down the fox enclosure and re-erect it at its new site. It is a big job.”
She added that a vet from Stanhope with a tranquilliser gun licence, would help with the move and give the foxes a clean bill of health before they are re-homed.
In its time Ark On The Edge became renowned for its community and education activities. In association with East Durham College the centre hosted courses which gave students animal care qualifications.
Students have also done training in horticulture, fencing, dry stone walling and other skills.
They have completed work experience there and the centre has worked with groups dealing with drug and alcohol dependency, Ms Kingsnorth said.
She added: “It has been hard work and it can get quite frustrating but it has also been rewarding.”
She sad it was heart-breaking when animals were rescued in awful condition, but also rewarding when a wild animal is returned to its natural home after recovery.
However, the charity will continue to help re-home animals – although in a less hands on way.
Ms Kingsnorth said: “What we are planning, paperwork-wise, is to be a piggy in the middle to try to get animals into foster homes.
“We need to get a bigger group of foster carers under our umbrella. We have four foster carers, we need to get that up a bit.”
She thanked Raby Estate for allowing the centre to stay at Wooley Hills Farm for a few extra weeks to provide more time for the move.
Anyone who can help with the move of the fox enclosure, or who would like to get involved in providing foster care to cats, rabbits and guinea pigs can call Ark On The Edge on 01833 630505.
