A north-east animal sanctuary has made a plea for help after an elderly pony arrived at its doors in dire need of medical attention.
Fluke – who they believe is 44 – arrived at Willows Animal Sanctuary, near Fraserburgh, in such poor health that volunteers immediately put out a call to supporters for help.
The pony is one of two that had previously been cared for by an 80-year-old man, who can no longer provide a home for them.
However mare which accompanied Fluke – Meg – is thought to be in better condition.
A spokeswoman for Willows said: “Their 80-year-old owner was seriously struggling to care for them as he is in very poor health himself, and was struggling to get enough feed out to his beloved ponies.
“He has gone above and beyond to provide care for Fluke and Meg and has pushed himself to the point where he slipped and fell.
“Fluke is in very poor condition and we are going to do our best to get him back to health. We have just had our vet examine him and Meg and we are hopeful that with careful feeding Fluke will make a full recovery.”
The group is now hoping that big-hearted animal lovers can spare what they can to help Fluke through his journey back to full health.
Money donated will go towards providing shelter and food for both ponies at Willows Animal Sanctuary, off the B9093 road between Strichen and New Pitsligo.
The sanctuary, which has been supported in the past by musicians Deborah Bonham and Paul Rodgers, is home to dozens of farm animals that would face slaughter without its intervention.
Today it cares for almost 100 horses, small animals and reptiles.
And earlier this year, work was completed to a “cat hotel”.
Since recovering from flooding earlier this year, the sanctuary launched the project to give its visitors a space to play with Willow’s 55 rescued cats.
