Wolfwood Animal Sanctuary - Lancaster’s Best Kept Secret!
Do you know what happens to the stray dogs of Lancaster and Morecambe that are rounded up by the Dog Warden? When you call the RSPCA about young chicks that you have found fallen or pushed out of their nest do you know what they do with them? No, neither did I until I met Stephen Wakelin of Wolfwood – Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation and Rehoming of Rescue Dogs.
Wolfwood was set up by Stephen, a local man born and brought up in the Morecambe area, four years ago in donated accommodation south of Lancaster just off the A6. Since that time he and his team have seen a steady flow of unwanted and lost dogs, urgently needing new homes, passing through his kennels. So many in fact, that their facilities and resources are strained to put it mildly.
Across the yard is the area where rescued wildlife is housed. The mix is amazing from hurt and injured hedgehogs, orphaned baby hedgehogs, an injured magpie, injured starlings, two young chicks needing feeding every twenty minutes, to name only a few.
Then over the road we find the enclave and pens for recovering wildlife with every kind of bird, duck, chicken and animal that you can think of getting the best of attention and veterinary help they need until such time as they can be released back into their natural habitat.
Still there is more because in separate fields are the eight rescue horses and ponies that Wolfwood is permanent home to, and where volunteers have built a new stable, to their own design, just in time for them to be snug and warm during that terribly cold, snowy period in December 2010.
As you can imagine all of this costs money, lots of money. And as a charity lots of money is something Wolfwood hasn’t got. So they need help from the generous people of the Lancaster and Morecambe area.
The Bay Veterinary Group are organising a ‘Sponsored Dog Walk’ on 21st August with proceeds being divided between Wolfwood and RSPCA. The event starts at Bay Vets, 12 Market Square Milnthorpe, 1:00 pm and consists of a gentle, hour-long, walk through Dallam Park and surrounding area. There will also be a raffle and tombola and anyone who would like their dog(s) to take them for a walk should contact Vicky on 015395 62770.
They have a charity shop at Bowerham Road, Lancaster LA1 4BN tel 07971 518 335 during opening hours and they will welcome any donations that you can provide them with.
And of course it goes without saying that donations of money and time are of special help. You can help by volunteering to walk the dogs – they love your company – assist at the sanctuary or charity shop, organise events and fundraising, make a donation or even leave a bequest in your will.
Any amount of time and money donated and raised will help Wolfwood get closer to the one thing that they desperately need – a sanctuary that they own - and which will give them the freedom they need to continue to provide fantastic facilities for animals in need.
If you would like to know more, or can help in any way, contact Wolfwood by email at wildlife@wolfwood.co.uk, tel: 07931 220 094 web: www.wolfwood.co.uk.
Perhaps with your help we can change Wolfwood from Lancaster’s best kept secret to what it surely is – a jewel in the crown!
