JOYS OF SAVING
Rescuer Barby, 82
MORE than 10,000 animals owe their lives to Barby Keel.
The 82-year-old has dedicated her life to abandoned pets – and has given up relationships, a modelling career and a home to build a sanctuary.
Now in a book she has told the world about the animal that broke her heart – a mute pup who learned how to bark.
She said: “I can’t help but have favourites. I had a beautiful dog called Gabby who died a few years ago. I lost three stone with stress and grief.”
Gabby was mute when she came to the sanctuary following years of being held indoors. But with Barby’s help and love, her confidence grew.
She said: “Gabby repaid my kindness a million times over.”
Around 600 animals live at her sanctuary, including eight goats, 150 cats, 16 pigs and a peacock.
She said: “Fostering animals is a privilege. My house is permanently filled with volunteers, dogs and visitors. I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Scouted as a model for Coca-cola as a young woman, she gave up a OUR vet Brian Faulkner, from Petplan, has 22 years of experience and is a freelancer working all over the country. Send your questions to Brian at: Petplan, Great West House, Great West Road, Brentford, Middlesex, TW8 9DX or via Petplan’s Facebook page facebook.com/ Petplanuk. promising career after developing a “soppy” love of animals.
She said: “In the early 70s a soldier stationed in Northern Ireland asked me to look after his female dog.
“When he came home she was so attached to me, she never left. Then people kept asking me to help.”
Barby bought land and lived in a caravan so she could dedicate the rest of the space to animals. The site, in Bexhill, East Sussex, grew from there and relies completely on donations.
Even the man of her dreams did not stand a chance against her true love.
She said: “My long-term partner said I had to choose between him and my animals. I packed his bag for him.
“They’ve given me so much joy and, when I was diagnosed with breast cancer a few years ago, it was the animals who helped me through it.
“I wanted to write the book to show the struggles I face on a daily basis and show that with love and care, animals can be saved, healed and, in turn, we are healed beyond words.”
Gabby: The Little Dog That Had To Learn To Bark is out now. MY dog got stung by a bee on her nose last week. I treated it and she seemed fine for days. But now she won’t stop sneezing. Should I be worried?
Healed
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