A Scots animal sanctuary is able to operate thanks to donations and all of the profits from Tribe Tattoo Studio in Glasgow’s west end and Edinburgh.
Clover the lamb had a broken leg and birds had pecked out her eyes, and she was in such a bad way the farmer that owned her was planning to leave her to die. But luckily dog walkers spotted the sheep and asked the farmer if they could take her to where they knew she would be safe – Tribe Animal Sanctuary, reports Glasgow Live.
The lamb is just one of 120 animals at the Clyde Valley animal rescue centre, all have been surrendered, abandoned or neglected. Tattoo artist and animal lover, Morag Sangster, founded Tribe Animal Sanctuary in 2017 and has provided a safe home for hundreds of sheep pigs, goats, chickens and donkeys to live out their days ever since.
Morag, who opened the tattoo studio, Tribe, at Bank Street in Glasgow in 2000, said opening a safe haven for farm animals had been a life long dream.
“My husband John and I are both vegan and have adopted various pets over the years but we always wanted to help more animals and dreamed of having a farm that animals could live out their days on.
“Finally, in 2017 we opened Tribe Animal Sanctuary and currently have 120 animals, all have been neglected, surrendered to us or abandoned.
“Clover the lamb was in an awful state when the dog walkers found her. They alerted the farmer to her, as she had maggots eating her and birds had pecked at her eyes but he said he was leaving her for nature to take it’s course.
“He allowed them to take her and they brought her here. She had lost one eye from the birds and injured her leg and was in terrible condition. But with nursing, she is now healthy and happy and has become firm friends with our three legged sheep. She lost one eye so sometimes bumps into things but she is such a character and full of life.”
The animal sanctuary does not put down any healthy animal and relies only on the tattoo studio profits and donations from the public to operate.
Vet bills can run into the thousands every month, especially when a badly injured animal is surrendered, and running costs are also on the rise.
Morag said: “Running the sanctuary is more than a full time job, it’s all day every day. It’s physically demanding to care for all the animals and the mental load of having all the jobs done and making sure there are funds for everything.
“But it is so rewarding to see all these animals who would most likely have been put to sleep or left to die happy and thriving. They all have their own characters, our goats are hilarious, the pigs are so loving and the sheep are great fun. Farm animals are not unlike your pets, they have personalities and quirks and want to live.”
Tribe Animal Sanctuary are currently holding an online auction to raise funds, with weekend breaks, meals and gifts available to bid on. You can find out more here.
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