76068-28WHEN 12-year-old Zoe Illing learned about the work of a Wootton Bassett animal sanctuary she decided she had to do something to help.

The Commonweal pupil, who wants to be a vet, first read about the Swindon and District Animal Haven in the Advertiser.

She then visited the haven, run by John Warwick, with a family friend who was looking for a rabbit and she was hooked.

"That was when I decided to ask if I could raise some money for them," Zoe said.

"I felt like John needed some help.

"He is a really nice bloke and he puts all his time into the haven."

Since then Zoe, along with family friend Jane Peach, has been organising the garage sale to be held this Saturday.

The proceeds will be split between the haven and the special care baby unit at the Great Western Hospital because Zoe's cousin was born prematurely in 2002 and was looked after in the unit.

Zoe, who lives with her family at Croft Road eight-year-old brother Joshua, parents Shelley and Graham and border collie Coby, said she hoped to raise as much money as possible.

John said: "This is brilliant.

"It's so good that a 12-year-old not only has the idea to raise the money, but also the nous to go ahead and do it.

"We are really grateful to Zoe for what she is doing and of course so are the animals."

John and his wife Deana have been running the animal haven, at Warwick Farm, near Wootton Bassett, for seven years.

In November the haven featured in the Adver when John and Deana appealed for sponsors to help finance a £600,000 modern care home for animals.

They want to build a new facility to meet the increasing demand for their service and would like to include a cattery, wildlife hospital kennels and a visitors' centre.

More recently they have featured in the paper appealing for homes for animals ranging from an iguana to 48 degus small brown rodents that look like a cross between a rat and a gerbil.

Zoe lists her favourite animals as: 1 dogs, 2 horses, 3 cats, 4 kangaroos and 5 monkeys

Anyone else who can help out with fundraising or a donation for the haven can contact John on 07990 868887.

The garage sale will be run from 10am to 3pm this coming Saturday at 9 Coventry Close, Wroughton.

Refreshments will also be available.

David Andrew