WHEN Peter Gill and Kelly Hennessey-Ford made the giant decision of turning their home into an animal sanctuary they didn’t know what they were letting themselves in for, after taking in a growing and assorted menagerie of waifs and strays.

It was one warm summer’s evening in 2023 that seemed a natural progression for the couple because at the time, with a little land at their disposal and both being afflicted with soft hearts since moving to Ross-on-Wye just two years earlier.

They arrived with a dog, a cat and two goldfish, but within two years they had managed to acquire four goats, three sheep, four doves, half a dozen quails, two rabbits, eight chickens and another dog.

The addition of Dotty, the extra dog was the catalyst to us making the big decision to go all the way and fulfil a dream that we both had independently held but never shared with each other.

Peter said: “I am not one to sit back on an idea and once the decision was made we were both 100 per cent committed to making the sanctuary work.

“A not-for-profit, community interest company was registered, a website and socials created and I started work on making aviaries and enclosures.

“Since then hardly a day has gone by when I haven’t been working in some capacity on animal housings and spaces and I don’t think any day has gone by when we haven’t been trying to connect with the public through social media posts.

“Consequently, at present we are home to over 200 animal residents. There are ponies, pigs, goats, sheep, turkeys, rabbits, geese, guinea pigs, chickens, turtles, budgerigars, owls, ducks, dogs, cats, our lovely blind calf Lana and a host of other species.

“We are not however a rehoming sanctuary. When we take in a new lodger it is for the rest of their journey.

“Whatever stresses they have gone through before in their life – and for some it has been quite horrific, once they’re with us their life’s ordeals are over.

“Our residents are not pets; they are animals who we try to give as natural a life as we can. “There is plenty of love here and everything gets whatever attention they want, but it is on their terms and their schedule, we just attempt to be the facilitators.”

“In the forthcoming months I would like to introduce Ross Gazette readers to some of the characters and their stories at Pen Y Bryn which I very much hope you’ll enjoy.”

Unfortunately Pen Y Bryn is not open to the public but the owners do offer the occasional supervised visit.

Peter added: “Perhaps the hardest word to pronounce is ‘no’, to turn down a request to take in a new creature, but in fact ‘no’ can be the most loving, caring and responsible word if it ensures the safety and health of those you are already caring for.”

Visit the website: penybrynanimals.co.uk to find out more about the residents or how you can help the sanctuary.