A well-known animal sanctuary near Calne has issued an urgent appeal for support after a series of unexpected veterinary bills and rising running costs left it struggling to meet essential expenses.
Goatacre Animal Sanctuary says it has fallen behind on rent, water, electricity and hay and straw bills after losing one of its main sources of income.
Based near Calne, the sanctuary cares for a wide range of rescued animals, many of which have complex medical or behavioural needs.
However, their popular open days, which have traditionally helped fund its work, have not been able to take place recently because of personal circumstances.
In a message shared on social media, the sanctuary said: "As many of you know, our open days have always been one of the main ways we raised money to keep the sanctuary going.
"Unfortunately, due to personal circumstances, we haven't been able to hold them recently, and the loss of that income has hit us incredibly hard."
The appeal comes after a difficult few weeks for the sanctuary. Goat Ellie recently underwent emergency surgery to remove a growth from the base of one of her horns after a head wound failed to heal.
At the same time, staff have been caring for 10 rescued rabbits, all of which have needed vaccinations, neutering and dental treatment, while continuing to provide their day-to-day care.
The sanctuary has also been mourning the loss of Kip, a much-loved pig who spent more than 10 years there after arriving as a five-week-old piglet.
The recent heatwave has pushed costs higher still, with fans, air conditioning and extra water needed to keep the animals safe and comfortable.
The sanctuary is asking anyone who is able to spare £2 or £3 to consider making a donation, saying that lots of small contributions could make a huge difference to the animals in its care.
Those who are unable to donate are instead being asked to share the appeal in the hope of reaching more people.
Goatacre Animal Sanctuary provides a home for a wide range of rescued animals and relies on donations and community support to continue its work.
Anyone wishing to help can donate via PayPal (
Want to know what’s on in Calne? Visit our local events page for listings and to find out how to add your own events for free. Follow us on Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok to keep up with all the latest news. Have you got a story for us? Email editor@calnenews.com.
