Hens to rule the roost at rescue events in Kildare at weekend
By Kim O'Leary
Littlehill Animal Rescue and Sanctuary is set to host a hen rescue this weekend in Kildare in the hopes of re-homing abandoned hens.
The first hen rescue is scheduled to take place this Saturday at the Clanard Court Hotel in Athy from 3.30pm to 3.45pm and opposite the Kilashee Hotel gates in Naas from 5pm to 5.15pm.
On Sunday, the second hen rescue will take place opposite the Kilashee Hotel gates in Naas from 4.30pm to 4.45pm.
The charity is requesting that those interested in the events pre-book hens in advance and provide their own travel carrier with holes and one carrier per two to three hens. The adoption fee is €6 per hen.
Littlehill Animal Rescue and Sanctuary is based in Kildare and they aim to rescue and re-home abandoned and neglected dogs, cats, horses, hens, turkeys, ducks and pigeons. Recently several ex-battery hens were rescued and the charity currently houses nearly 200 rescued animals.
The charity is funded entirely by donations and depends on volunteers, and by the resources of its founder Susan Anderson, who has more than 20 years of experience rescuing and re-homing animals.
“We have about a thousand hens for this weekend, and those hens were scheduled for slaughter. But what we do is we take them off the local farmer and we collect them and bring them to the chicken rescue in the hopes of re-homing them,” said Susan.
The charity also uses Facebook to communicate with potential owners and donors. “It’s a great way of reaching people, and it also allows us to make sure that the animals all go to good, suitable home,” explained Susan.
“We recently rescued four dogs, three goats and a pony. The pony we found abandoned at the Ballinasloe Horse Festival, he was a foal at the time. He was in quite poor shape, we've named him Paxton and we are hoping to find a home for him soon,” she added.
The charity’s patron Pauline McLynn (Mrs Doyle from Father Ted) also visits on a regular basis to help take care of the animals.
All proceeds from the hen rescue will go back to the charity to help staff to care for and rehabilitate the abandoned and neglected animals.