Barby Keel, 90, has dedicated 54 years to running the Barby Keel Animal Sanctuary in Bexhill, Sussex, where she has saved over 10,000 animals.
Starting with just three animals, the sanctuary now cares for over 600, including cats, pigs, horses, and rabbits.
Despite battling cancer three times, Barby has no plans to retire, crediting her energy to hard work and a daily breakfast of beans.
The sanctuary is funded by donations and operates on a 12-acre site, offering a refuge for abandoned or abused animals.
Visitors can tour the sanctuary and purchase items from its shop.
Starting with just three animals, the sanctuary now cares for over 600, including cats, pigs, horses, and rabbits.
Despite battling cancer three times, Barby has no plans to retire, crediting her energy to hard work and a daily breakfast of beans.
The sanctuary is funded by donations and operates on a 12-acre site, offering a refuge for abandoned or abused animals.
Visitors can tour the sanctuary and purchase items from its shop.
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FunTranscript
00:00There's 160 cats. We must have, I don't know, 100, 200 chickens. We've got ducks, we've got geese, we've got 80 odd rabbits. We don't have many dogs because we're not allowed many dogs. I would say about 500 because the chickens were batteries. They're gradually dying off, you know. But with all the rabbits and everything, I would say we've got a good 500.
00:28I just got fed up in Eastbourne with everyone moaning about animals. So I come over here with my dad and my partner, moved into a caravan, lived in the caravan for 20 years, you know. And then we built a house. But it's just, it's just got worse and worse. And I just can't believe that people let their animals go.
00:51But I get up at 7, I do what I have to do. I have a cup of tea with my friend at 10. Then I work till 1. And then I go and find jobs like my book work, fold up raffle tickets, do all sorts of things, do posters, do everything.
01:06And I have written four books. Everybody in life thinks, you know, you think, oh God, why am I doing this?
01:14And then say Woody, I come up and rub my face and all your look at little scampi and you know why you're doing it, you know.
01:21And when you see the little frightened animals that come in, some of them in terrible conditions, you know why you're doing it.
01:27And I'm just pleased that I've helped thousands of animals, you know. Every month we buy a load of cat and dog food at the proper price, sell it in our shop at half price so that people that have got to get rid of their animals can keep them.
01:42We've got a no kill policy which will carry on. My trustees will carry it on when I die, you know, and just hope it goes on.
01:51But you see, I just think that I'm lucky. I'm doing a job that I like. I mean, a lot of people go to work and they think, oh, you know, but with me, I don't.
02:02I'm doing what I want to do. When my husband said it, he got to choose between me or the animals, I helped him pack his bags.