At 90, She’s Still Saving Animals and Has No Plans to Stop

Most people slow down in their golden years.
But Barby Keel? She’s just getting started.
At 90 years old, Barby still gets up every morning to feed hundreds of rescued animals at the sanctuary she’s been running for over five decades. She’s cared for over 10,000 animals in her lifetime and made it clear—she’s not ready to retire.

It All Started With One Dog

Back in the 1970s, a soldier asked Barby to look after his dog while he was deployed. The dog never left, and Barby’s life changed forever.

Soon after, she took in more animals. First a few cats, then pigs, goats, and even horses. Word got around, and her quiet property in Sussex, England slowly became a safe place for animals in need.

Today, the Barby Keel Animal Sanctuary is home to more than 600 animals, including:

• 160 cats
  
• 16 pigs
  
• 8 dogs
  
• 6 horses
  
• 100 chickens
  
• 80 rabbits
  

Some of the smaller animals are adopted into new homes. Most stay with Barby for the rest of their lives, surrounded by love and care.

A Simple Life with a Big Purpose

For 20 years, Barby managed everything on her own. These days, she’s got help from a small group of dedicated volunteers. Still, she’s there every day, rain or shine.

She doesn’t take days off. She only leaves the sanctuary every few weeks, usually to pick up supplies or play darts with her local men’s team.

“It’s hard work,” she said. “Some days I feel completely worn out. But then I get a little nose nudge or a sweet face looking up at me, and it all makes sense again.”

She Chose the Animals Over Everything

Barby once ended a relationship when her partner asked her to choose between him or the animals.

“I picked the animals,” she said. “They’ve always come first.”

Even after battling cancer three times, Barby never gave up. She still puts her animals first every single day.

The Sanctuary Keeps Growing

The sanctuary is a nonprofit and runs entirely on donations. It recently reopened to the public and welcomes visitors every Sunday through October.

Guests can walk the grounds, visit the animals, enjoy a cup of tea at the café, or stop by the gift shop. There’s even a little vivarium to explore.

Barby also runs a small shop on-site where she sells pet food at affordable prices. She uses part of her pension to buy in bulk, just so families in the community can afford to feed their pets.

Still Showing Up Every Morning

Barby admits she’s had to slow down a bit. She leaves the bigger animals to her volunteers now, but she still starts her day by feeding the cats.

If you’d like to donate, visit her website: https://barbykeelanimalsanctuary.org/