Always on
This project successfully funded on 2nd March 2023, you can still support them with a donation.
Talon's owls & animals need your help urgently!
Looe, Cornwall, United Kingdom
Aim: We are struggling to afford the rocketing costs of food, heating and veterinary fees for the sanctuary's owls and animals - please help!
Talons Owltimate Encounters CIC is an owl and animal sanctuary that funds itself by offering assisted animal therapy for anyone with mental health issues, special needs, learning and physical disabilities, the elderly, and victims of abuse. We have offered a home to many unwanted animals and birds over the years, and those with suitable temperaments take part in the therapy work, which in turn raises funds to support all the creatures in our care.
Prior to the Covid pandemic our mobile therapy was very popular and we were extremely busy visiting care and nursing homes, day centres, and other groups, as well as providing educational sessions to schools. We also did a lot of fundraising at events to support our work. Sadly, Covid stopped us in our tracks - all our bookings cancelled overnight, and consequently our income stream dried up. We were fortunate to obtain a small grant, and together with donations from our supporters we have managed to keep the sanctuary running whilst Covid caused ongoing disruption and uncertainty - but that money has now been exhausted. However, more owls have come in to our care and, because of the current cost of living crisis, we are getting continued requests to assist other creatures, especially reptiles.
The pandemic continued to cause disruption to our therapy work for almost two years, and sadly two of our staff had to leave to find alternative employment - leaving just one person to look after all the birds and animals at the sanctuary. As this is a full time job in itself, it has been virtually impossible for them to be able to undertake any mobile therapy sessions. In an effort to find a way forward we are now inviting clients to visit us, rather than going out to them - but this will take time to establish as it is a different customer base.
In the past few months we have seen the price of the owl's food literally double (it's costing over £70 per week just to feed them), and the electric bill to keep all the reptiles warm is draining funds rapidly. Then there are the varying diets and needs of all the other inmates! Worryingly there are currently no spare funds for emergency vet bills.
We desperately need your support to get us through the next few months, whilst we try and get back on our feet. All we want to do is to ensure the birds and animals continue to receive the best care we can give them - they deserve nothing less. Thank you for caring.