Since when has “SOS Animaux a roof for life” existed in Plufur? With what objectives?
Cindy Lojou, shelter manager: It will be five years in March 2025 that the shelter has been open. Our goal is to mainly save farm animals, although we are also sometimes called upon to help cats and dogs. We therefore rather collect horses, pigs, goats, cows, rodents, poultry, etc.
How many animals do you currently accommodate, on what surface?
We have around 4 hectares, we would like to have more but it is complicated to find land. At the moment, we have nearly 150 animals, if we count all the chickens one by one (laughs): we have between 70 and 80 since a recent seizure of poultry. Otherwise, we have around twenty horses, from Shetland pony to former grand prix horse. Our latest arrival is a horse that we repatriated from the Jura. His previous owner wanted to have him euthanized because of his melanomas, he was rescued at the last minute, he was only 15 years old. We also have around twenty rabbits, goats, pigs…
How many animals have you saved this year? Where do they most often come from?
We took care of, in one way or another, nearly 250 animals. Often, in the context of voluntary abandonment, in the good sense of the term. That is to say, these are people who, for one reason or another, can no longer take care of their animals. It’s not because they don’t want to anymore. They may have health or money problems, have to move, have lost their job, or have had a life accident. Afterwards, we are also called upon in cases of abuse.
What were the best and saddest stories of 2024 at the shelter?
The most beautiful is that of Polly who arrived here at the end of September 2024. When we went to pick him up, he was lying down, we thought he wouldn’t last the two hours of transport. His hooves hadn’t been trimmed in years. And recently, we published a video where we see him galloping in front of the whole group. He still has a lot of osteoarthritis sessions to do for his pelvis to recover as best as possible, but it’s already a great rescue.
There were also difficult times with the loss of our two 32-year-old grandpas, a horse and a pony. They were inseparable, the death of one led to the death of the other. Sometimes, it can be younger people who leave too. When they arrive at our home, we are not sure we will be able to get them out of trouble. When surrendered, some animals are put up for adoption. There are some who we choose to keep in the shelter because they have pathologies, they are really old…
This dedication comes at a cost that we imagine is high?
We calculated, in veterinary costs, on average, it costs us between €1,200 and €1,500 per month. There are months when this budget explodes like last month: we had to have Ulysses, the horse we brought back from the Jura, operated on urgently. In terms of food, just for the horses, we are around €1,000 per month. Then there is transport, farrier care, dentist care, etc.
Fortunately, we managed to find some really nice traders in the area who allowed us to collect their unsold items. The bakery in Plufur and another in Plestin-les-Grèves give us their leftover bread. And the Carrefour de Plouaret gives us its unsold vegetables and bread. The health professionals give us prices and we even have an osteopath, Korydwen Journaux, who comes to the shelter free of charge once a month.
Is this refuge a passion that has become a vocation?
It’s kind of become my job. I’m very lucky because my husband works outside and he helps me when he can with the work, in the evenings or on weekends. Our three children are also there. This refuge is truly a family adventure in its own right.
What are the upcoming projects? How to finance them?
We would like to be able to build three or four more boxes for the horses, so that we can isolate the animals when necessary. We would also have liked to be able to stabilize the entrances to the horses’ paddocks but it’s a big budget, I don’t know if we will be able to do it.
We receive a lot of donations, whether financially or by sending us a bag of litter, kibble, blankets. Until now, we also did a lot of collection days but it takes us time and it bores people. We will only do one collection over the year and no more one-off operations as we did with the trees at the end of the year.
Practical
Facebook page, SOS Animaux a roof for life. Online prize pool, independent shelter recognized as being of general interest, donations tax deductible at 66%.
