A 90-year old woman from the United Kingdom has rescued over 10,000 animals through her animal sanctuary, and she's not stopping anytime soon.
Barby Keel has dedicated 54 years to running the Barby Keel Animal Sanctuary in Sussex. It all began in the 1970s, when a British army soldier asked her to watch his dog while he was deployed in Northern Ireland.
The dog never left and soon, she began taking in more animals. "Before long I had about 40 cats, and started taking in farm animals like sheep, cows, pigs, and goats," shared Barby.
Fast forward to today, her 12-acre sanctuary is home to 160 cats, 100 chickens, 16 pigs, eight dogs, and six horses!
"Some of the animals are re-homed like the cats, dogs, and some rabbits, but the majority of them will stay on the farm and live our their days here."
Barby has an incredible team of volunteers, though she still wakes up at 7am every morning to care for her animals. She says she never takes a day off.
"Some days I am shattered—it's hard work," she admits. "But then I get a little nose 'boop' or a face peers up at me, and I remember why I'm doing this. My animals come first and always will."
The Barby Keel Sanctuary is a nonprofit organization
The 12-acre sanctuary, which she ran for 20 years all by herself but now manages with a “motley” crew of volunteers, provides a refuge for hundreds of abandoned, rescued, or abused animals from farms, kennels, or private owners.
The Barby Keel Sanctuary, a nonprofit organization, provides refuge for abandoned, rescued, or abused animals from farms, kennels, and private owners.