HUNDREDS of animals may have to be put down within weeks unless there is an 11th hour rescue bid to save an animal sanctuary.

Earlier this year trustees at Oxfordshire Animal Sanctuary, in Stadhampton, said they needed vital funding to keep it afloat.

But now there is less than one month’s money left in the pot – with more than 20 jobs also at risk.

The sanctuary is appealing to the public for urgent donations and offers to rehome the animals, which include 92 dogs, 100 cats, 22 rabbits, seven sheep, one horse, one pony and three goats.

Fighting back tears, trustee Debbie Heath, 55, whose husband Ron manages the 41-year-old sanctuary, said: “The bottom line is we will close if we do not get any money.

“The clock is really ticking and it is very worrying. I have not slept for weeks because I am worried what will happen to the animals.”

Mrs Heath said sending some of the animals to other charities was a possibility but unlikely with many families giving up their pets because of the recession.

“Some of them cannot be rehomed because people and quite a lot of other charities do not take problem animals and they would possibly have to be put down.

“I can think of two dogs at least who would lose their lives.

“If the other animals cannot be rehomed, the worst case scenario is they would lose their lives and I do not want to think about that now. It is very, very sad.

“I love animals and we will fight tooth and nail to rehome them, but 90 dogs in four weeks is pretty tough going.”

Mrs Heath, who has volunteered at the sanctuary for more than 30 years, appealed to animal lovers to dig deep and support the charity.

She said: “These are desperate times and we need urgent funds within the month. People donating money will really help save us.”

Trustees rely on money left in wills to fund the majority of the annual £500,000 running costs, but these have all dried up.

Now, the charity has less than £5,000 left, and this week staff were desperately trying to secure a temporary overdraft to ease the problems.

Accountant John Lord said about £200,000 could be raised from the sale of a house left to the sanctuary six years ago, although legal difficulties made it unclear if and when the money would be secured.

Fifteen full-time positions and six part-time jobs would also go if the sanctuary closed.

Mrs Heath said even the dogs were beginning to feel the pinch.

She said: “The poor dogs love their pigs’ ears that they can chew on, we used to get a sack of them, but now we can’t afford them, so even they are making a sacrifice to save us.”

Mr Heath, 61, said: “This is the biggest challenge the sanctuary is faced in its history.”

IF YOU CAN HELP: l Send a cheque, made payable to Oxfordshire Animal Sanctuary, The Village Green, Watlington Road, Stadhampton, OX44 7UB, or call the centre on 01865 890239. The centre is hoping that many people will come forward to adopt the animals but there are certain criteria that must be met. Call the centre for details.