A family are facing a race against time to rescue their dream of creating a sanctuary for scores of animals.
The Stevens have been told they have to be out of their property near Deskford by June following the death of a family friend and benefactor.
They have been leasing Backies Farm from Tom Brown since 2012.
But the 63-year-old was killed by a bull at his own property in Norfolk and now the executors of his estate have served the Stevens with an eviction notice.
The family has started a frantic search for a new home for their 30 horses, 30 dogs, a cow, sheep, goats, eight pigs and a donkey.
The Stevens moved from Norfolk to Moray in 2012 to set up their rescue sanctuary.
They rented the derelict Backies Farm between Keith and Cullen from Mr Brown.
This year, the Stevens had hoped to make significant progress in a bid to officially register the charity under the name Last Chance, but, when Mr Brown died in 2013 their dreams began to unravel.
A letter delivered to them by Glasgow-based law firm Harper Macleod, acting on behalf of the executors of Mr Brown’s estate, gives them notice to vacate the property by June 7.
Julie Stevens, 47, said: “When we found out Tom had been killed, I was absolutely gutted.
“He was such a lovely guy. But, of course, the estate then went into probate because there had been no will left.
“There’s nothing anyone can do. It’s a rolling tenancy, and they have got the right to run the estate how they like.