The Algernon Trust

Jane Shepherd started rescuing feral cats twenty years ago and has been rescuing and living with foxes in her home for nearly eighteen years.

The Sanctuary was established in February 1991 when Jane moved to Whittlebury, Northants. It started with five feral cats, one rabbit and one fox, Algy, but grew rapidly with the intake of local ferals and 'Chessie', a one-eyed vixen cub from Essex. Then, about eleven years ago she began to take in poultry as well and now has four geese, some 40 assorted hens and cockerels, two disabled pheasants and a dear white guineafowl called Archie.

In August 2001, after funding the Sanctuary entirely out of her own pocket, Jane had come to the point where she would either have to close or go public and so the Algernon Trust, named after that first fox ever rescued, was born.

The Trust takes in cats and dogs who need long term care as well as those who are able to be re-homed. To date Jane has never refused to take in any cat for whom the alternative was euthanasia but this has put enormous pressure on the Sanctuary as far as space is concerned and funds are needed to build more outside pens - the wildlife pens are now given over to housing cats in need of rehoming. Fosterers are also urgently needed to ensure that no needy cat ever has to be turned away. Jane accepts cats of any age and the oldest cat to come in so far is Mr Whiskey who arrived in September 2006 aged 21, with cancer. Sadly he died at the end of 2007, aged 22, having sailed through a dental operation and finally dying very suddenly, at home. Mr Whiskey had a very happy time here; he used to spend most of his time on the bed but would wander around the garden in fine weather and sit out in the sun so at least his final year of life was special. He knew he was loved and that's the most important way to end your days. Currently
there are many cats over the age of thirteen in the Trust's care, both at the Sanctuary and being cared for by some of Algy's Angels.

Jane also provides a wildlife rescue service locally, on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 52 weeks a year. She will go out to any creature she has the equipment to deal with and who can fit into her car, which eliminates deer larger than muntjaks and also waterfowl unless they are on dry land (she can't swim and doesn't have a boat!)

When not busy with feeding and cleaning out animals, getting down to the administration of the Trust or rescuing animals, Jane travels over a wide area trying to raise funds to pay for the enormous costs involved in running a Sanctuary.