About the sanctuary in Jane's own words:
I started rescuing feral cats twenty years ago and have been rescuing and living with foxes in my home for nearly fifteen years.
The Sanctuary was established thirteen years ago when I moved to Whittlebury, Northants. It started with just five feral cats and one fox, Algy, but grew rapidly with the intake of local ferals and Chessie, a one-eyed vixen cub from Essex. Then, about eight years ago I began to take in poultry as well and I now have three geese, some 40 assorted hens and cockerels and a dear white guinea fowl called Archie.
In August 2001, after funding the Sanctuary entirely out of my own pocket, I had come to the point where I would either have to close or go public and so the Algernon Trust, named after that first fox I ever rescued, was born.
In addition to providing long term care at the Sanctuary, I also go out on local animal rescues.
When I am not involved in the day to day care of the sanctuary or out rescuing animals, I can be found all over trying to raise funds to pay for the enormous costs of running an animal sanctuary.
Jane Shepherd
The Sanctuary was established 15 years ago by the founder Jane Shepherd. The Algernon Trust is named after Algy, the first fox who needed permanent residence with Jane. Initially Jane paid for the upkeep of the animals in her care out of her own pocket, only starting to raise money from the public five years ago when the Sanctuary had used up all her personal funds. Food bills alone now exceed £600 a month and enormous vet fees are incurred by taking in sick and abandoned animals. Recently, one cat alone named Jonathan Gingercat, cost over £1,500 in vet fees in just the first 3 months after his rescue. He still requires ongoing veterinary care.
Animals who currently have security, food and TLC at the sanctuary include
24 permanent cats as well as a fluctating number that need re-homing
5 dogs
4 ferrets
4 foxes
A blind pheasant, hens and cockerrels, geese and guinea fowl.
Some of these animals have come to Jane not only from the surronding area (Northamptonshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, and Warwickshire), but also as far away as Essex, Birmingham, Leicestershire, London and Wiltshire. Jane also provides a resuce and ambluance service for sick or injured foxes, badgers and other wildlife. She also is working closely with the National Fox Welfare Society, Ark Wildlife Hospital, Animals in Need and local Badger Groups.
