At Hopefield Animal Sanctuary we look after over 300 sick, unwanted and mistreated animals - including horses, cattle and rabbits. The land that the sanctuary is on is owned by Tescos and they want to sell it to housing developers. If this goes ahead the sanctuary will need to close, leaving the animals with nowhere to live. Many of the animals are too old to be adopted by members of the public, so it will mean a death sentence for the animals!
There are other areas being considered by the council for housing development, so it isn't essential that our sanctuary land is used.
We have spent the last three years developing our stables. We have put so much money in and now everything could be lost.
We provide a service not just for the animals but also for the public - we have school visits and children with learning difficulties come to see the animals.
We could try to rehome a few animals but a lot are too old and we would have to put them to sleep. We have also got cattle and as we are not a big cattle community in Essex there isn't anywhere else for the animals to go.
Please sign my petition to ask Brentwood Council to reclassify the land as a leisure and recreation area, which would reduce the value of the land, giving Hopefield Animal Sanctuary a chance to buy it, in order to save the animals.
Dear Brentwood Council,
Please reclassify the land that Hopefield Animal Sanctuary is on as a leisure and recreation area. This would reduce the value of the land, giving Hopefield a chance to buy it. If the land is used for housing, the sanctuary would close, and the animals would have nowhere to live. Many horses and cattle would die - they would need to be put to sleep as many are unsuitable for rehoming.
Aside from the animal deaths, the sanctuary provides a community service as children, families, schools and people with special needs come to visit the animals. This means that it truly is used for leisure and recreation purposes.
I hope that you will consider this seriously. Thank you.
