A Lincolnshire woman is marking an extraordinary milestone: half a century spent caring for animals that nobody else wanted.
Pam Mansfield, 75, runs Exotic Pet Refuge, a registered charity based in rural Lincolnshire that is home to more than 500 animals. The residents range from fish and hedgehogs to monkeys — and even a fully grown alligator.
“When he arrived, he was only about 18 inches long,” Pam says, gesturing toward George, the refuge’s most famous resident. “Now he’s seven feet. He’s usually very calm — unless it’s feeding time. Then you have to be careful because he gets excited and jumps.”
George lives in a heated enclosure complete with a pond and tropical-style surroundings. It looks more like Florida than the English countryside, but this unlikely habitat sits firmly in Lincolnshire.
His diet includes whole trout, beef, deer meat and the occasional chicken.
George arrived unexpectedly in 2002 after Pam and her late husband Mel were asked to help a family whose son had been seriously injured in a road accident.
“They told us he had some lizards in the bathroom,” Pam recalls. “They didn’t mention the alligator.”
Pam’s lifelong dedication to animals began long before George entered her life. Raised around farm animals by her grandfather, she later shared that passion with Mel.
Together, they started by rescuing injured birds while living in Peterborough. What began as a small act of kindness quickly grew into something much bigger.
“As the animals got larger, so did the commitment,” she says. “We moved a few times, and 29 years ago we settled here in Deeping St James. The house is right in the middle of the animals.”
In those early years, Pam worked as a cleaner while Mel was an engineer. His wages covered household bills; hers went straight back into animal care.
“Some nights at 10pm we’d still be outside building enclosures,” she says. “We never went on holiday. You can’t leave animals like these.”
Mel died in 2004, but the refuge continued. Today, Pam runs it alongside their son Darren, who cares for many of the more demanding and potentially dangerous animals. Darren lives on-site with his family, and the refuge is supported by a manager and around 30 volunteers.
Exotic Pet Refuge now houses monkeys, snakes, tortoises, caiman, tegus, lizards and around 200 fish. Most animals arrive from members of the public rather than zoos or councils, often after owners realise they were unprepared.
“People don’t always understand what exotic pets need,” Pam says. “They don’t realise the cost, the time, or the licences required. That’s why we tell people to do proper research before buying one.”
Many of the animals cannot be rehomed due to legal restrictions under the Dangerous Wild Animals Act, making the refuge their permanent home.
Running the sanctuary comes with enormous costs. Heating alone costs around £3,000 a month, while food bills reach roughly £5,000.
“Some food comes frozen, some straight from slaughterhouses,” Pam explains. “And with the cost-of-living crisis, we don’t get as many donations from supermarkets as we used to.”
To survive financially, the charity holds open days and relies heavily on donations and legacies.
Pam’s mobility has declined, but she remains hands-on where she can. “I can’t do everything I used to, but I still do plenty,” she says.
Exotic animals also bring unique medical challenges. “Local vets often have to call specialists, sometimes even London Zoo, for advice,” she adds.
Despite the pressures, Pam has no plans to stop.
“I’ve loved animals my whole life,” she says. “Looking after them is what I do. I can’t bear the idea of them suffering.”
As for George, the alligator named by schoolchildren, Pam admits he holds a special place.
“He’s a big old boy,” she says with a smile. “But he’s a good one — and very popular.”