Our Animals
Hopefield is home to over 200 animals including 69 horses, 45 goats, pigs, donkeys, cows, cats, rabbits and lots more. Here are just some of their stories:
Salt
Salt came to Hopefield after he was bought for a residential home and grew too big for his enclosure. People at the residential home were lead to believe he was a German micro pig but he kept growing he also used to sit on residents laps so his size was a problem.
Now living at the sanctuary salt has grown in to one of the biggest pigs we have. He enjoys spending most of his time having a mud bath.
Salt came to Hopefield after he was bought for a residential home and grew too big for his enclosure. People at the residential home were lead to believe he was a German micro pig but he kept growing he also used to sit on residents laps so his size was a problem.
Now living at the sanctuary salt has grown in to one of the biggest pigs we have. He enjoys spending most of his time having a mud bath.
Hope
Hope has been at the sanctuary for over twenty years. She was one of the first horses for Hopefield to rescue. They found her in South Hall Market when she was a baby. She was crying out in the corner because she had been taken away from her mum. No one knows what had happened to her before that but she is now happy at the sanctuary. She can still be quite nervous of people if they make sudden movements or loud noises. Staff are still working hard with Hope to get her more confident. Hope is prone to foot canker which means she cannot get her feet muddy. If it is left untreated it could be fatal. Last year staff, volunteers and supporters raised money to build a concrete paddock so that Hope could go out even in the winter months when it is muddy.
Hope has been at the sanctuary for over twenty years. She was one of the first horses for Hopefield to rescue. They found her in South Hall Market when she was a baby. She was crying out in the corner because she had been taken away from her mum. No one knows what had happened to her before that but she is now happy at the sanctuary. She can still be quite nervous of people if they make sudden movements or loud noises. Staff are still working hard with Hope to get her more confident. Hope is prone to foot canker which means she cannot get her feet muddy. If it is left untreated it could be fatal. Last year staff, volunteers and supporters raised money to build a concrete paddock so that Hope could go out even in the winter months when it is muddy.
Tori
Tori arrived at Hopefield in May 1998. She had to be rehomed urgently because she had been injured when someone deliberately slashed across her back legs. She was recovering but needed a safe new home. Now she is fully recovered she enjoys going out in the field with her friend Tarot. Like most Arab Mares, Tori is playful and highly-strung. She is nosy and always likes to see what’s going on. Tori is very friendly and gentle, she also like people.
Tori arrived at Hopefield in May 1998. She had to be rehomed urgently because she had been injured when someone deliberately slashed across her back legs. She was recovering but needed a safe new home. Now she is fully recovered she enjoys going out in the field with her friend Tarot. Like most Arab Mares, Tori is playful and highly-strung. She is nosy and always likes to see what’s going on. Tori is very friendly and gentle, she also like people.
Max
Max Came to Hopefield four years ago. He was only 4 days old and was taken away from his mum. His mum was a dairy cow so every time she was in calf the calves were taken away so they could use the milk. If the calf was lucky to be female the farmer would raise her and then use her for her milk. If they were male like max they are shot because there is no need for them. When Max came to the Sanctuary staff had to bottle feed him until he was old enough to go out with the other cows. Today he spends most of his time relaxing out in the field with his friend Rosary. He enjoys being around people and coming over to see the visitors.
Max Came to Hopefield four years ago. He was only 4 days old and was taken away from his mum. His mum was a dairy cow so every time she was in calf the calves were taken away so they could use the milk. If the calf was lucky to be female the farmer would raise her and then use her for her milk. If they were male like max they are shot because there is no need for them. When Max came to the Sanctuary staff had to bottle feed him until he was old enough to go out with the other cows. Today he spends most of his time relaxing out in the field with his friend Rosary. He enjoys being around people and coming over to see the visitors.
Randy
Randy was found with other goats which had been left in a field with no food or water. He was skin and bone when he came to the sanctuary and had a skin problem. Sadly some of the goats had already passed away before help could reach them.
Randy is now happy enjoying the company of all the other goat although he can still be a bit nervous around people.
Randy was found with other goats which had been left in a field with no food or water. He was skin and bone when he came to the sanctuary and had a skin problem. Sadly some of the goats had already passed away before help could reach them.
Randy is now happy enjoying the company of all the other goat although he can still be a bit nervous around people.
Alfie
Alfie came to Hopefield one Christmas eve. He had been left on the side of the road unwanted. The police said that they were going to shoot him as he was a hazard to himself and to drivers on the road. A man that was nearby walked Alfie 5 miles to the next livery yard where he was safe until the following morning when he came to Hopefield. He is now enjoying his freedom at the sanctuary with his friends.
Alfie came to Hopefield one Christmas eve. He had been left on the side of the road unwanted. The police said that they were going to shoot him as he was a hazard to himself and to drivers on the road. A man that was nearby walked Alfie 5 miles to the next livery yard where he was safe until the following morning when he came to Hopefield. He is now enjoying his freedom at the sanctuary with his friends.
Brontie
Brontie is a Hinny which is a donkey mother and a horse father. They are very rare and they are infertile. Brontie came to us because she kept escaping and her ex owners could not keep her in. Brontie still escapes our fencing as she rolls underneath them but she cannot get out of the sanctuary.
Brontie is a Hinny which is a donkey mother and a horse father. They are very rare and they are infertile. Brontie came to us because she kept escaping and her ex owners could not keep her in. Brontie still escapes our fencing as she rolls underneath them but she cannot get out of the sanctuary.
Ollie and Tillie
Ollie and Tillie are two of five cats that were given to Hopefield after someone’s German Shepard found them at just four days old in a hedge. Their mother had abandoned them. Staff had to bottle feed them until they were old enough to eat kitten food. Sadly one of them passed away because of all the stress. The others are all fit and healthy and like to spend most of their time snuggled up in the office.
Ollie and Tillie are two of five cats that were given to Hopefield after someone’s German Shepard found them at just four days old in a hedge. Their mother had abandoned them. Staff had to bottle feed them until they were old enough to eat kitten food. Sadly one of them passed away because of all the stress. The others are all fit and healthy and like to spend most of their time snuggled up in the office.
Scruffy
This is Scruffy, he is one of two rabbits that were left at the sanctuaries gate on evening. It was lucky that a member of staff was still around otherwise they could have been left there all night and we get foxes around us. As you can see his fur is all matted round his face. And their claws were over grown and they curled over your finger. We are seeing a massive increase in small animals being left or being taken into sanctuaries because people cannot afford them.
This is Scruffy, he is one of two rabbits that were left at the sanctuaries gate on evening. It was lucky that a member of staff was still around otherwise they could have been left there all night and we get foxes around us. As you can see his fur is all matted round his face. And their claws were over grown and they curled over your finger. We are seeing a massive increase in small animals being left or being taken into sanctuaries because people cannot afford them.
Babycham
Babycham used to live in a field on her own and was just left. Everyday kids used to come over and hit her with long sticks some even used to jump over the fence and kick her. She is still a little nervous around children today but is getting better.
Babycham used to live in a field on her own and was just left. Everyday kids used to come over and hit her with long sticks some even used to jump over the fence and kick her. She is still a little nervous around children today but is getting better.
Goldie
Goldie came from south hall market when she was a foal, where animals were sold in horrible conditions. We are not sure 100% what Goldie went through but her eye needed to be removed due to her being beaten with anything they could find to hit her with.
She is now happy and safe at the sanctuary but she still stresses if you leave her on her own. She will just continuously walk around in circles until she is back with her friends. So she now lives with Whitsun, our eldest donkey and they cannot be separated.
Goldie came from south hall market when she was a foal, where animals were sold in horrible conditions. We are not sure 100% what Goldie went through but her eye needed to be removed due to her being beaten with anything they could find to hit her with.She is now happy and safe at the sanctuary but she still stresses if you leave her on her own. She will just continuously walk around in circles until she is back with her friends. So she now lives with Whitsun, our eldest donkey and they cannot be separated.
Ned, Bella and Peggy
Ned (top), Bella (middle) and Peggy (bottom) Came to Hopefield last year after the sanctuary were looking for a companion donkey for our old donkey. We came across a web site which was selling donkeys in a really bad state. So we went down to see them and came across Ned and Bella. Their feet were over grown and their coats were all matted. We took Ned but the man wanted £850 for Bella because she was pregnant. When Ned was delivered to us the man kicked him off the trailer, people were shocked by the condition and heard about the one we left behind so they started to donate money to save Bella. A few months later Belle gave birth to Peggy who has just celebrated her first birthday with all her new friends.
Ned (top), Bella (middle) and Peggy (bottom) Came to Hopefield last year after the sanctuary were looking for a companion donkey for our old donkey. We came across a web site which was selling donkeys in a really bad state. So we went down to see them and came across Ned and Bella. Their feet were over grown and their coats were all matted. We took Ned but the man wanted £850 for Bella because she was pregnant. When Ned was delivered to us the man kicked him off the trailer, people were shocked by the condition and heard about the one we left behind so they started to donate money to save Bella. A few months later Belle gave birth to Peggy who has just celebrated her first birthday with all her new friends.
