VIVA! Article 1998

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VIVA! Article 1998

Reproduced from Animal Crackers, VIVA!, 1998

"The pancake flat fieldsof the Fens have an atmosphere of their own - you certainly couldn't call it beauty. Endless acres of carrots and sugar beet are uninterrupted even by hedgerows or tress and seem to stretch to infinity. The sluggish grey water of land drains ripples to a frequently thin and cutting easterly wind that can riffle through clothing like a pick pocket.

Head east from Cambridge and you come to an isolated place called Fen Drayton where a meagre 19 acres of this unrelentingly flat land offers something very different and very special - hope! An assortment of animals - some 500 sheep, goats, lambs, calves, pigs and chickens in total - live out their lives amidst a jumble of barns and outhouses, saved from the brutality of slaughter.

It came into being nine years ago and was itself the product of a disaster. Carole, her husband and daughter Melanie were victims of a drunken driver who smashed into their car. Her husband was killed, Melanie was disabled and Carole was injured. Her lump sum compensation bought the land and buildings while Melanie's regular monthly compensation paid the running costs. The impetus for the sanctuary, however, came from a farmers adjoining field.

"A pregnant ewe gave birth to a lamb in the field and sadly died in the effort. But what no one knew was that she had already given birth to another lamb on the edge of the field beside some bushes. The little ram was left on his own for several hours before being discovered by Carole, by which time he was cold, hungry and close to death. She not only bottle fed him, wrapped him up warmly next to the kitchen fire and nursed him back to health, she also rescued his little twin brother.

After a good and long life, the brother has since died but Larry - who else - is still alive and well but now a little cantankerous with advancing years. He's given up his trips around the area raising funds and likes his peace and quiet. Disturb him too often and he shows his irritation. But who can blame him.

He was a small, solitary, lonely little figure devoid of companionship. He was being allowed more time to fatten up. It was too much for Carole and £40 saw the lamb move from one field to another - but with a world of difference between the two.

All the stories are sad but some are disgusting. Gismo's mother was almost full term in her pregnancy but she was nevertheless consigned to the slaughterhouse. Carole rescued her and only three days later Gismo was born."

"The beautifully natured Luckdragon was born prematurely when the hunt passed through her mothers field, the hounds terrifying the pregnant ewe. Babe the piglet was found abandoned by the side of a road - cold, weak and hungry. You would hardly believe that now when you see the size of this very contented, loving and seemingly very grateful, very big pig. When Gromit, the Fresian calf, was thrown out bacause the farmer wouldn't pay his vet bill it was seemingly the end for him. But fortunately Carole was at hand and he was rescued.

'When the animals arrive here they are nervous, frightened and completely disorientated' Carole explains. 'But they soon change with love and attention. Creatures which are too often dismissed as stupid and worthless show remarkable intelligence and gentleness once we have dispelled their fear. They are equally as bright as a dog. But what is truly remarkable, it seems that whatever their experiences they are always ready to trust humans again'.

'To try and stop protesters from halting lorries, false allegations of injury are met with a £500 fine so protesters have to be absolutely sure that an animals' injuries are substantial. In Remus's case they were right and he was taken off the transporter. His leg had to be amputated but he's now completely happy on three. Without their action it is likely he would have gone all the way to France or Spain in that condition to meet the same brutal fate that faced all the other innocent sheep on that lorry'"

"But fate can be unkind in other ways. Just 14 months ago Caroles daughter died. Not only had she been dedicated to the animals but her monthly compensation had paid the bulk of the feed and veterinary costs. Weeks later, Caroles mother died. To Caroles grief was added concern for the Sanctuary's survival - a concern that is growing more acute by the day.

'It is impossible to keep going as we are and if we fail, these beautiful animals will probably be sent to the slaughterhouse. It will be the ultimate betrayal' Carole Webb believes.

The sanctuary's needs are really quite modest. If 1,000 people donate just £2.00 a month it will be saved. Of course, any donation is welcomed but £2.00 a month entitles you to adopt one of the many animals at the sanctuary, including some of those mentioned here.

And of course, there's Henry the Hebridean ram. He was born with the "wrong shaped" horns and no rare breed enthusiast wanted him at auction. Carole heard the auctioneer shout out 'Come on someone, he's got to be worth a tenner for meat!'. That was her cue and this very gentle animal is oblivious to how life might have turned out. Unfortunately, no new animals can be accepted until the sanctuary's future is secured"