AN ANIMAL sanctuary caring for animals who may otherwise be put down is facing crisis and fighting to stay open.

The owner of Jamie's Zoo, which will soon be called Sanctuary Zoo, currently based in Malvern, said he is struggling to pay for massive winter food bills and is working 60 to 70 hour weeks to keep it going.

Jamie Price said he has an amazing band of supporters behind him but needs to look further afield to see if anyone can help the not-for-profit sanctuary by either donating money, goods or their time.

The rescue shelter will soon be relocating to Alfrick and provides a sanctuary for domestic and wild animals who have often been sold on the black market or have mistakenly been brought as pets.

The winter feed bill alone is costing Mr Price between £50 and £100 a week at the sanctuary which currently houses 22 animals but can house up to 100.

Mr Price, aged 32, said two years ago he decided to follow his dreams and set up the sanctuary for animals who could otherwise face being put down.

It provides homes are domestic cats and dogs as well as horses, pigs, goats and more exotic animals such as parma wallabies.

"Money just totally dwindles away and the situation I'm now in financially is pretty horrendous.

"It's not just financially, I am working an average of 60 to 70 hours a week trying to keep everything afloat.

"But I won't let the animals down.

"We still have domestic cats and dogs but can have anything from cats and chinchillas, rats, equine and exotic animals.

"We've had animals people have bought as pets then realised their mistakes - goats bought to 'mow the lawn' or micro pigs which have grown up to be too large."

Mr Price, an animal lover since her was a child, said the idea for the sanctuary came to him following a relationship breakdown and the sale of a home which left him with some spare funds.

His 'dream' sanctuary is never short of animals needing shelter but the reality has been tough especially keeping on top of all the bills.

The plan is to eventually open the sanctuary up to public so it is able to fund itself but at the moment Mr Price is hoping people will be kind enough to offer donations.

People can donate by visiting gogetfunding.com/jamieszoo and an Amazon wish list is in the process of being set up.

Anyone who would like to offer help is asked to log on to facebook.com/jamieszoogarden, email jamiepriceflorist@gmail.com or call Mr Price on 07514 447463.