A 90-year-old Englishwoman has reportedly rescued more than 10,000 animals over her lifetime, dedicating over five decades to caring for abused and abandoned creatures.
Barby Keel has spent 54 years running the Barby Keel Animal Sanctuary in Sussex, UK — a journey she says she has no intention of ending, as long as she remains able.
Keel’s mission began in the 1970s, when a British Army soldier stationed in Northern Ireland asked her to look after his dog during deployment. That dog never left, and soon, others followed. After being approached by the Bexhill Cats Club to take in cats, her sanctuary began to grow. Today, she cares for more than 600 animals, including 160 cats, 16 pigs, 8 dogs, 6 horses, 100 chickens, and 80 rabbits.
“Before long, I had about 40 cats and started taking in farm animals like sheep, cows, pigs, and goats,” Keel told SWNS media.
While some animals — such as cats, dogs, and rabbits — are rehomed, the majority live out their days on the 12-acre sanctuary. For 20 years, Keel managed it single-handedly. Today, she’s assisted by a “motley crew” of volunteers who help keep the sanctuary running.
Despite her age and having battled cancer three times, Keel said she never takes a day off. She tends to the animals daily, only leaving the sanctuary every few weeks for shopping or to play darts with the local men’s team.
“Some days I am shattered — it’s hard work,” she admitted. “But then I get a little nose boop or a face peering up at me, and I remember why I’m doing this. My animals come first and always will.”
Her devotion to the animals has even cost her a relationship; she once ended a long-term partnership after her ex-partner gave her the ultimatum: “me or the animals.”
The nonprofit sanctuary runs entirely on donations and recently re-opened to the public, offering free visits every Sunday until October 2025. Visitors can see the animals, explore a café, a souvenir shop, and a vivarium.
“We also run a shop on-site. I use my pension money to buy bulk food and sell it cheaply so people can afford to feed their pets,” Keel explained. “The reopening was packed, which was amazing.”
Expressing gratitude for her volunteers and the public’s support, Keel added, “I know I’m getting older, and I know my limitations. I don’t deal with the big animals anymore, but I still get up every morning to feed all the cats and see them all. It’s a good life.”