Brockswood Animal Sanctuary boosted by donations after break-in
An animal sanctuary facing a £3,000 bill after being ransacked by thieves for the third time this year has been saved by the generosity of strangers.
The public have come to the rescue of Brockswood Animal Sanctuary, in Sedgley, with bosses confirming they have received more than £3,500 in donations since the latest break-in.
It comes after crooks smashed their way into the site’s cafe to steal food, cutlery and animal feed baskets at the start of the month – leaving the sanctuary’s team of volunteers having to patch up broken doors and glass.
Neil Swann, sanctuary director, says that following the break-in firms in the area have stepped up to help them in their time of need and offered their services for free.
Mr Swann said: “It has gone really well. We have had donations from the public and they are still coming in today.
“It has not just been public donations though, we have had a security company that have started work on our alarm systems and helped us with a CCTV system.
“We have had around £3,500 in donations, it has been really good and we have had lots of help.
“We are a bit patched up still but we are up and running. The general public support has been a massive benefit to us.
“There are some decent people out there. There has been a lot of people donating a substantial amount of money and they can appreciate what we are trying to do here.”
Team leaders from Mac Security Systems Ltd, a small family business in Cradley Heath, heard about the break in and immediately offered to help the team out free of charge.
Sales director Mark McMaster, 57, who helps run Mac with his son and managing director Matthew McMaster, 28, said the story was one that tugged on the heartstrings and that the firm had taken to ‘beefing up’ the sanctuary’s security systems.
Mr McMaster said: “
They have now got two alarms, one on the front and one on the back – we have also put signage up.
“The plan is to go back and fit a master blaster which is a loud siren. If anybody does get in there would not want to stay in the building too long.
“They just have a good story and it is giving something back to the local community. It is helping people that have not got a lot of money and they do a good job. It pulled on the heartstrings.” The not-for-profit sanctuary entertains around 20,000 visitors every year during its open season.
It houses a range of animals including goats, sheep, ponies, pigs, owls, raptors and turtles.
Bosses now look towards hosting the sanctuary’s Halloween event on October 31 – Pooch Howl’oween. For more information contact the venue on 01902 884390.
