Hello from all of us at Horn Head Pet Sanctuary!

This Web Site is for animal lovers and people with a true love of nature. My name is Annette Hunter. I am a very lucky person as I live in the most beautiful part of Ireland and I have the best friends anyone could wish for! I run a small pet sanctuary and although my pets are all rescued animals, in truth I am the one who is rescued, as all my animals bring such joy into my life. I have the honor of spending my life in the company of:

4 dogs: Buttons, Tess, Bubbles and Pluto.
2 horses: Gentle Jenny, my old age pensioner aged 30! and stunning Blackie from The Irish Horse Welfare Trust.
2 donkeys: Scruffy and Pixie - from The Donkey Sanctuary in Liscarrol, Co. Cork.

(I had another horse called Holly – who you will see in the Photo Gallery, but I had to re home Holly as she was an overweight pony and needed more exercise than I could give her. So she is now in a riding school where she gets plenty of exercise and she is well cared for. I adored Holly but I knew it was best to re home her for her own sake. I do miss her so much but it’s not about me, it’s about what’s was best for Holly.)

My donkey, Scruffy, is named after a very special dog I had who has since passed on. Scruffy is a real entertainer and he just loves to be petted on his forehead. Poor Scruffy had to endure losing his best friend Dotty, who died here on 11th February 2008. I had named Dotty also after another special dog I had who too has since passed. The Donkey Sanctuary always gives 2 donkeys to a foster home as donkeys pair off as “best friends” and so they are not separated when they are sent to a foster home. The Donkey Sanctuary Welfare Officer, Ernie Somerville, makes regular visits to make sure I am taking good care of the donkeys and he gives me expert advice on any questions I have. I am honored to be a foster home to Scruffy – and was so honored and blessed to have known poor Dotty. Now we have found a new friend for Scruffy as he must have a “best friend” to be truly content. Scruffy's new mate is Pixie. He arrived here on 5/4/2008. Scruffy and Pixie made instant friends and they run about the fields playing tag! They stay so close to each other that they make only one shadow when the sun shines. It is lovely to see Scruffy happy again. Jenny and Blackie are very gentle and protective towards the Scruffy and Pixie.

Blackie arrived here on 1/7/2008 from the Irish Horse Welfare Trust. I named him Blackie not just because he is black - but in memory of another beautiful dog I once had who I adored. She was called Blackie. I know Blackie will love the fact that I named an exquisite black horse after her. My dog Blackie was rescued from a life of beatings and neglect but thankfully we had many happy years together before she sadly passed on.

I had 10 sheep but I had to give them away to a kind home after I developed chronic pain after surgery.I had to accept that I could not look after them properly. My walking is restricted due to pain so I could not walk the mountains looking for my sheep! They were beautiful creatures though and I do miss them. Sheep are funny. They are not like dogs in that they don't exactly come to you when you call them!

You can meet my pets in person in the Photo Gallery Section.

Dotty, my love, I will never forget you. You arrived here on 23rd December 2007, such joy. You left this world on 11th Febuary 2008 at 8 30pm, such sorrow.I'll never understand why you were taken from us. My beautiful, exquisite, gentle, little Dotty.