Animal rescue centre launches urgent appeal

Milo is one of the rescue pets brought to Ferne

An animal charity is issuing an urgent appeal for more funding to help it survive a cash-flow issue.

Ferne Animal Sanctuary near Chard said it needs £100,000 to get through the next four months due to rising costs.

This comes just days after it rescued three cats found in a sealed cardboard box.

"We're moving Heaven and Earth to get us through this," the charity's CEO Kevan Hodges said. In the longer term the centre is opening more charity shops to raise funds.

Ferne CEO Kevan Hodges said he was positive the charity would survive to help more animals

The rescue centre shelters about 300 animals at any time.

Nikki Haddock, animal care manager at Ferne, said: "Not all our animals are rehomed, some stay with us for their entire life.

"We are seeing more dogs come in with behavioural issues and medical issues that have gone untreated for a long time. None of it is cheap.

"Our vet treatments bill per year are around £80,000-£100,000."

She said the most recent cats found in a cardboard box were doing well - but one of them was pregnant.

Mr Hodges said costs for veterenary bills and food were going up, and the charity was struggling to keep up.

"We are in a classic situation where cash is king," he told BBC Radio Somerset.

"We need this appeal to be successful over the next few months.

"Because of a huge increase in costs over the last 24 months we're in this position now."

He said they were in the process of opening more charity shops, but in the meantime, they were relying on the appeal to be successful.

"I'm extremely positive that we are going to get through it," Mr Hodges added.

Follow BBC Somerset on Facebook and X. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630.