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Hello Friends
As another year turns, we continue to help the furry family leave their troubled pasts behind to fully enjoy life here.
The support from you all, our friends, make the sanctuary form a circle of safety and happiness for the animals here - thank you.
It was another lovely and successful day at Chaldon Fete this year. The work that goes on behind the scenes by the fete committee ensures it's a hugely popular event, which retains the true village fete feeling.
They raised a tremendous overall total, so the most incredible sum of £900 was donated to each of the local organisations that are supported; and we are extremely grateful to be one of them.
We know prices of everything go up rather than down, and it has been particularly noticeable with the expenses here this year, so this donation - as all donations are - was very much appreciated.
Without support, the sanctuary could not exist - you literally put food in tummies, cover medication costs from the vet and ensure a warm, safe roof over the residents heads; so we can't say thank you often enough.
Doing the accounts during the summer with the sunroom door open, this was my view from the desk - beats an office any day !
In the hot weather the cats would turn up very late for tea and didn't eat much, while the dogs were happy for their dinnertime to be delayed until the days began to cool. Many cats chose to sleep outside overnight - very sensible as it was a lovely temperature then.
One very hot day coincided with an online discount day so, thanks to you, I was able to sit quietly at my laptop and top up the food shed for everyone, including a couple of treat items that were on special offer. And by the time you receive this, a winter food order should hopefully have been done too.
On the hottest day of the year when energy levels were low, I began plotting ideas out for this winter newsletter; and a few days ago ( October ) I lit the first fire of the season while I'm working on putting the newsletter together.
The front of the sanctuary has overgrown plants ( ok - weeds but butterflies love the nettles ) and they are good for wildlife to hide in while waiting for me put out scraps or keep their water bowls full, which was especially important and appreciated during the hot summer days that we had.
Some of the wildlife I’m lucky enough to see around the sanctuary.
A pheasant usually appears late summer for a few weeks before vanishing. 
A selection of beautiful butterflies who enjoyed the hot summer.
So that’s why there were paw prints on my windscreen one day ! 
“Wasn’t me” >>> 
Broom & Cinders 
Popo 
Bumble & Fagin 
Heather 
Cinders 
Taxi 
Heidi 
Sparkle 
Dogs and cats hiding in plain sight ! 
Rosa went to the vets for a little lump to be checked, and it’s fascinating to see how sensitive dogs noses are. The other dogs were playing in the field after the vet apt, and as they caught the scent of where the vet had stroked Rosa, they skidded to a halt to sniff and check she was ok. Their sense of smell, as well as concern for one of their group, was lovely to see.
The lump was a benign cyst and here Rosa is after surgery, wearing a cone, with Sparkle keeping her company.
Another time Twiggy was sharing the footstool and - doubt it shows - but Rosa is in a favourite pose of hers, sitting on my feet ! 
It’s been a stressful summer with Cedar ( brother of Broom ) as he has become epileptic, which was rather a shock - for both of us. He is now two years old, one of the Elm family feral kittens. Thankfully the fits were soon brought under control and he learnt to take his medication with treats. This photo is him waiting for me, outside the back door at tablet time...well, in truth...waiting for his lickilix tablet treat ! 
Here is his sister Iris in the sun. 
The very old ( 2005 ) bric-a-brac shed finally came to the ends of it days - 
Andrew had patched and propped it up as much as possible but when I couldn’t open the door to get in anymore, it was time for it to go.
Thanks to one of the sanctuary friends, a new plastic shed has been donated which will be a joy to use - seen here waiting for construction day.
While we all know the importance of reducing plastic usage, the plastic sheds are sturdy and longer lasting than wood, so I’m happy that there will be a functional shed here for a long time.
At the time of writing, it is not erected, but by the time I get around to finishing this newsletter, I hope it will be.
When looking back at previous newsletters, I came across this, that Jacky wrote in 2005 - time to be re-shared.
The time has come to say goodbye,
When you're having fun, the time doth fly,
Our thanks to one and all of you
In whatever way, for all you do.
You keep our little flock safe from harm
We suppose we're like a mini farm,
The cows, the sheep, the pigs and goat
The foxes in their pens who note
The dogs and cats who pass them by
With freedom to stop and just say Hi.
Christmas wishes from one and all
And a New Year that's just a ball,
They send their love, our little band
To folk who care and understand.
It is your kindness in all the ways that you donate and support us, that mean the sanctuary residents will enjoy another warm, well fed and playful Christmas, thank you.
The Easyfundraising total continues to rise - every donation, all the pennies and pounds from those who use it, join together to create on-going funds for the furries, thank you.
Our Amazon wishlist continues to deliver goodies and essentials to the sanctuary, and I have the added bonus of enjoying parcels to open all year, not just at Christmas time ! Thank you. 
Used stamps continue to arrive though the volume of posted letters has reduced, but we still raise funds with them, as we do with ink cartridges now too - thank you.
