Alice Smith

BBC News, West of England

A Somerset animal sanctuary has raised nearly £10,000 to lease an industrial washing machine and dryer for the next two years.

Ferne Animal Sanctuary, near Chard in Somerset, does about 50 loads of washing a week as it cares for dogs, cats and other animals.

The charity has previously relied on donated domestic washing machines, which struggled to cope with such frequent use.

“[They] tend to break down with the amount of usage we have,” said Nikki Haddock, from the sanctuary.

“They break down within a few months usually, and then we are without a machine for a period of time until we get another one.”

With so many animals on site, Ms Haddock said keeping bedding and towels clean is an essential part of the sanctuary’s work.

“We take in animals that need somewhere to be, and one of the biggest things we face is poorly tummies,” she said.

“Whether that be from parasite burdens or gut infections – I won’t go into too much detail, but you can imagine.”

She said the industrial machine, which has an 18kg capacity, will be a game-changer for the sanctuary.

“If an element starts to wear out, it will alert the engineer, who will come and fix it before it breaks down, so we’re not left without a machine,” Ms Haddock said.

The fundraiser has already surpassed its target, meaning the cost of leasing both the washing machine and dryer is covered for two years.

“It’s not the most exciting fundraiser, but it is really important for us,” Ms Haddock said.

“The plan is to get the machines ordered and installed this week.”