Sponsoring an Animal 
By purchasing one of our sponsorship gift packs you will be directly contributing to the costs involved in caring for your chosen animal. You can choose from a wide range of animals here at the shelter.

Our sponsorship are just £30, and make great gifts! When you sponsor an animal, you or your chosen recipient will receive:
A branded Marias Animal Shelter notebook & pen
A personalised Certificate of Sponsorship
A shelter-branded car sticker
Information on your chosen animal
A recent printed newsletter from the shelter
Sponsoring an animal is really simple. Just click the link below, fill out the form, and send it back to us via e-mail or post. Once we have received your form and payment, we will send your pack out to you or your chosen recipient.

 

 

Check out our resident animals looking for sponsorships below!

 

Bella, Bernard and Hetty

Exclusively sponsored for life by Sue Campbell 

This troublesome trio are our resident sheep. They have huge personalities and LOVE their food! Bella (left) and Bernard (middle) came in to us in September 2022 at 6months old, after being hand-reared. Hetty (right) arrived in May 2019 because she’d been abandoned. Together, they all make excellent lawn-mowers!

Chick the Degu

After his owner passed away Chick became one of our resident degu’s. Don’t be fooled, he may be one of our smallest residents but he has one of the biggest personalities! He is the sweetest little man you could hope to meet. He loves a head scratch and always waits patiently for his daily pea flake!

 

ROCKY THE COCKEREL

Rocky was one of a number of poultry that was abandoned in a local woods. Luckily some kind members of the public came to feed the abandoned poultry daily until they were all caught and rehomed. Thanks to the amazing teamwork, Rocky now lives with his eight lovely ladies. He is a proud cockerel – and we think he’s a rather dashing chap too!

 

THE HENS

A group of eight chickens needed to come into us in 2021 as their owner was sick. They are lovely girls who come running over to us to see what we’ve bought them for lunch. They like to (not) help during cleaning time, kicking the bedding out after jumping into wheelbarrows! They are a cheeky bunch who will climb all over us – we just prefer it when they don’t poop on our backs!

BUTTONS

Buttons the seldom seen feral cat. He is always around the shelter, but only seen at his morning feeding time. Occasionally we see a flash of black, as he leaps over a wall and disappears.

Misty

 

Misty came into the shelter in July 2019. Her previous owner had kept her tethered, so she could not run off but unfortunately the horse would tangle in the chain and end up kicking the goat. When Misty first came to us she would forever bleat at us for attention but she has since made friends with Toffee and Ericka.

Ericka

Ericka was brought into the shelter in June 2018, together with her 3 babies. Ericka was painfully thin, very anxious, had an over burden of worms and could not cope with feeding her babies. We hand reared the babies who then went off to their forever home. Ericka was treated by the vet and we managed to help her gain weight and she became friends with Toffee. Ericka has also improved with her nerves and is now a calm, placid goat who loves her food and cuddles.

Toffee

Toffee came into the shelter in 2010 with his brother Fudge. Unfortunately, Fudge died a few years ago. Toffee was distraught at losing his brother. Luckily, he now has Ericka and Misty to brighten his day. Toffee is one of those naughty goats, who sometimes terrorises the volunteers. He can be the most lovable goat on the planet and the next thing you have just been butted, such a character.

 

SHADOW

Shadow is such  a sweet, friendly cat. We cannot understand why she decided to live with us but one winters day she showed up in the poultry enclosure and started to live with the ducks, sleeping in their house. At first, we thought she was just visiting us but then realised this was not the case. After unsuccessfully not finding her family, we decided that she needed to stay with us. Shadow has upgraded to living in the tool room with her own bed, where she can come and go as she pleases. Most people meet shadow when she runs out to greet a visitor at the gate. 

 

COPPER & MARS

When Copper (right) first arrived, he started loosing weight consistently. He’s been at the shelter since November 2020 and is now on long term treatment for arthritis. Unfortunately, Copper’s original girlfriend Mini had to be put to sleep due to ongoing health struggles. Copper has been re-bonded with Mars (left) so that he’s not alone. These neutered boys will enjoy their retirement together, whilst their health conditions are monitored closely.

 

MISSY & FUDGE

Missy and Fudge came in as a pair because the owner had a new baby and no longer had time for them.  They were signed over to us in 2021. We noticed that Missy was not walking correctly and would lean to one side. She was also very messy and struggled to use her litter tray reliably! Missy has been seen by several vets, and none are completely sure what’s wrong, although it is suspected that she may have had a historical spinal injury, or permanent damage from the parasite e-cuniculi. She is on daily pain medication to manage her symptoms and life is more positive for her now. She lives out her days in our permanent residents block, which has inside and outside access for sunbathing. It’s quiet and secluded – perfect retirement!

 

COOPER & GINGER

Cooper (left) came into the shelter in October 2022 in a group of four guinea pigs that were no longer wanted. Ginger (right) came in separately in May 2023.

These boys look the same and have similar stories. Shortly after arriving with us they both experienced different but complex health issues, meaning they are not suitable for rehoming at present. Cooper was ‘bullying’ his three companions, chasing them around and kicking them off food. All behaviour is communication and unfortunately Cooper was communicating that all was not well and that he was in pain. This meant he was more defensive and felt compelled to guard resources (eg food) more readily, displayed as his anti-social behaviour towards other pigs. After battling with a prolonged ear infection among other issues, he’s finally stable and happily awaits his daily portion of grass with his friend Ginger. Ginger continues to drink and urinate excessively, and after numerous tests, investigations and vet visits is now stable on medication for the time being.