The owner of an Aberdeenshire animal sanctuary has stepped in to try to save a rare breeds centre which fell victim to council budget cuts.
Keith Marley was shocked when he found out Doonies Farm, just outside Aberdeen, was to be closed as part of a £30million savings scheme by the city council.
It means nearly 300 animals, including horses, sheep, ducks, hens and pigs, could be sold at auction.
Although a spokesman for Aberdeen City Council said the animals will not be sold for slaughter, Mr Marley is worried about where they could end up.
He said: “First and foremost this is an issue of animal welfare. There is no guarantee for the future of these animals, they will just go to the highest bidder.”
He is also concerned that the loss of the centre, which can have around 200 visitors a day in the summer, will have a negative impact on the local tourism industry.
He said: “It is an important resource for the local community. For stimulating an interest in animals and welfare with children, it has a very important role.”
As a charity, his New Arc Sanctuary, at Nether Auquhadlie, Ellon, would not be in a position to buy the land at Doonies Farm, but could take responsibility for running the centre.
Mr Marley said: “If it is just a case of cutting running costs, there could be alternatives to selling it.
“I think it’s feasible. We have the experience of dealing with animals on that kind of scale and of such a wide variety.
“I am not suggesting we are the only alternative. Perhaps there is a rare breed centre that might be interested in running it.”
The 10-acre North-East Wildlife Rescue Centre, near Ellon, is home to a mix of around 350 animals, ranging from cattle and horses to tawny owls and guinea pigs.
The animals, rescued from abuse or taken in when their owners cannot care for them any more, are rehoused or released back into their natural habitats.
Mr Marley said he would hope to implement a similar rehousing system for the rare animals at Doonies Farm.
A spokesman from Aberdeen City Council said: “There are not exact plans as yet for the farm. We are unaware of anybody contacting us with any proposals so it would be impossible to comment further at this stage.”