A WIRRAL animal welfare charity hit hard by the pandemic has launched an urgent appeal for Globe readers' help as it faces spiralling debts.
Horse Sense Wirral, based in Thornton Hough, helps rescue ponies and horses by giving them a place to stay and recover. It desperately needs donors to gallop to its rescue and safeguard the future of dozens of horses and ponies.
It costs £15,000 a month to keep the registered charity going on their 28 acre site, but as a result of the pandemic the usual grants it receives have now dried up.
On top of the regular monthly bills the organisation has a further £15,000 outstanding debts which have reached the final demand stage.
Amy Pirie, who set up the charity in 2013, said: "We are really in crisis and are appealing to all animal lovers to throw us a lifeline.
"We moved here in 2016 and rent the land from the Lord Leverhulme Estate and currently have 76 horses and ponies, not to mention sheep, goats, ducks, cats, rabbits, a hamster and a pig, bringing the total establishment to 134!
Amy Pirie
"They include 26 wild ponies from the Carneddau Mountains in North Wales and the others have come from far and wide, including two ex-race horses from France.
"We specialise in geriatric horses and our oldest is Mandy, who is an amazing 51 years old, which is more than twice the usual life span. The youngest are four foals who were born earlier this month."
Appealing to our readers for support, Amy explained: "Unfortunately as well as the grants we normally receive, at the same time, the public donations we also rely on have dropped by 80% following the pandemic and so we are appealing for urgent help".
Amy, who fell head over heels in love with horses as a young child, takes no wages and is helped by bus driver husband Shaun, another of the charity trustees.
He drives the trailer whenever they get a call to rescue a horse, night or day.
One of the new foals at Horse Sense Wirral
On one occasion they were called to assist with seven horses which had bizarrely arrived at Runcorn police custody suite, said Amy.
"We are looking for kind-hearted people willing to sponsor a horse for a monthly donation of £20 - £30 to pay for their feed and they will get a weekly photograph and update in return.
"To ensure we can continue providing the love and care these beautiful creatures deserve we need donations to clear off our pressing debts and also regular financial commitments for the future."
The operation is assisted by 60 volunteers who help care for the horses and Amy said they always on the look out for more.
They have to be over the age of 16, or 14 accompanied by a parent, and they can contact us via our Facebook page.”
As well as the Horse Sense Wirral Facebook page, the charity also has the Herbert Pirie Facebook page; named after the first pony Amy ever rescued after he was found so emaciated he had to lean on a hedge to stay upright and which was the start of the vital work she now does.
The charity can also be found on other social media sites where they can be contacted.
To support the campaign, go to: https://www.facebook.com/539821786150836/posts/2347403355392661/
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