Meet the Colchester United fan who set up animal sanctuary

Whether it's a cat or dog, rabbit or bird, pets are part and parcel of our lives and precious members of the family.

Nicky Palmer, however, takes that passion to a whole new level.

The 33-year-old decided to turn his interest into something special - his very own animal and bird rescue and rehab centre.

He currently shares his home with 25 animals!

'Guests' at the moment include six ducks, six rabbits, two guinea pigs, two starlings, a blue tit, a parrot, a budgie, a canary, a jackdaw, a wood pigeon, a tortoise, a cat and a dog.

"I've always been an animal lover," said Mr Palmer, who started Harwich-based The Farm Animal Rescue with partner Robyn, 27.

"As a child, I always had dogs, rabbits or budgies.

"I came into animal rescue by accident, though.

"I came across a small dove with a broken leg and, not knowing better, took it to a vet who said it needed to be put to sleep.

"I was shocked and frustrated as the bird was healthy, other than its leg.

"I felt it just needed time and care to heal and get back to the wild so took it home to see what I could do.

"Fortunately, after six weeks, her leg had healed and she was able to be released.

"Things started to grow from there.

"I've been doing this for around four years now and have probably had around 100 animals.

"We’ve had mice, birds of all kinds, from a blue tit to a buzzard, a bat, rabbits, hedgehogs and more.

"It isn’t always a happy ending but that's the nature of what we do.

"We've had lots of success stories but also lots of not-so-happy endings.

"For instance, we took in some hedgehogs last autumn as they weren't big enough to survive the winter in hibernation.

"By March, when they were released, we only had one that made it.

"The success is that one will be strong enough to have a long, happy life in the wild.

"The ones that didn’t make it were kept warm, safe and looked after as they passed, which is all you can ask for.

"It seems the right thing to do.

"I felt I was in a position where I could help, so I did.

"A lot of the animals wouldn’t survive if we didn’t help them so if you're in a position to help, I don’t understand why you wouldn’t.

"With a little time, care and knowledge, you're good to go."

In addition to the hedgehogs, there have been plenty of other heart-wrenching scenarios at The Farm Animal Rescue.

Among the current 'guests' are a rescue dog saved from a kill shelter and a cat found in a locked barrel of oil, left to drown.

The coronavirus pandemic has also had a profound effect, with many positive consequences.

However, things did not get off to a good start.

"One particularly difficult time was the start of lockdown," said Mr Palmer, who works for social services with young people who are care leavers.

"I got a call that eight ducklings were wandering in and out of traffic at Harwich International Port, causing delays in the traffic trying to get onto the boat.

"The staff were so accommodating and so helpful, especially Brooke Wakefield.

"She managed to round them up and deal with the traffic at the same time.

"I took four and another four went to a different rescue centre.

"They were only ten days old and mum had been scared off by the cars, abandoning her chicks.

"Three of them thrived but the runt, the smallest, seemed to struggle from the beginning.

"Sometimes you just know it's unlikely to survive.

"We persevered, regardless of the round-the-clock feeds and being up several times, checking the chicks' temperature, food, water, vitamins and all the variables.

"We lost the smallest duckling after just a few days but we really tried.

"She was cuddled up in my hands, held to my chest for warmth, but she was too weak to even hold her head up. She slowly passed in my hands.

"Nature can be alarmingly cruel but the reality is that, despite our help, only the strongest survive.

"The remaining three were released into the wild at the weekend.

"We've had to be so careful to handle them just the minimal amount, so they retain their wild instincts.

"The last thing we want is to release semi-tame animals who would be at a huge disadvantage in the wild as they'd lose their fear factor.

"It's very difficult to not become attached as you have literally raised them from babies, seeing them grow before your eyes, and then you have to let them go.

"It's a bizarre feeling to watch them fly off into the distance, knowing you won’t see them again.

"You do what's best for the animals, though, and we know we've given them a chance at a long, happy life in the wild. That wouldn’t have happened if we hadn’t taken that call."

Mr Palmer says that in the main, people want what's best for animals and have a lot of time, love and affection to offer.

However, there are also heart-breaking, upsetting tales which go with the territory of the job.

"Our little cat was found in Colchester," he said.

"He was around nine months' old and had been locked in a drum of oil, left to drown.

"Luckily, a passer-by heard his cries and we took him in.

"He was feral and absolutely terrified of people but the change in him has been amazing.

"He's now so affectionate and loving but never leaves the house and hides upstairs as soon as someone he doesn’t know comes round. He's very much a house cat.

"Our pride and joy is Pepper - our rescue dog from Portugal. She's a Podenco/Pekingese cross.

"She was a street dog who was taken to a kill shelter, where dogs are rounded up from the streets and those that aren’t homed within a certain time frame are euthanised.

"We were very fortunate to get her as she was on the list to be put to sleep.

"She was a wreck when we got her.

"She had never been walked, was very scared of people and had clearly been beaten before.

"But much like the cat, with time, care and attention she is unrecognisable now. So full of love and life.

"She still has issues around food and is desperate for food all the time.

"This is from previously not knowing where her next meal would come from, so it’ll take time for her to learn she is safe and will be fed.

"We have only had her since October, so she still has a little way to go.

"On the flip side, overall, the pandemic has had a positive impact on us and wildlife in general.

"People have been at home due to lockdown so have spent more time in gardens or on walks, noticing the wildlife around them.

"We’ve probably taken in more birds than ever before in the spring and early summer and it's nice for people to want to give the little ones a chance.

"In general, people want what’s best for animals and that's nice to see."

Mr Palmer and partner Robyn are expecting their first baby in September.

And with life set to get even busier, how does he juggle his work with animals with his day job, not to mention being the long-serving and well-respected captain at Harwich and Parkeston Football Club?

"We both have full-time jobs but we're in a settled routine, so it just becomes second nature," he said.

"Keeping on top of cleaning out hutches and vet appointments is part of the housework now.

"In the same way that people manage a household by doing the hoovering and washing up, ours is the same but with a few extra jobs.

"Have we swapped the rabbits over? Does the ducklings' hot water bottle need doing? Have the birds had free flight time?

"At times it can be difficult to manage so many animals with such different needs but it'll still be business as normal with the animals, even after our baby arrives.

"Routine is key to it all and it's our life.

"We've also got the most amazing two sets of neighbours who are so quick to help whenever we need it. We're very lucky to have them.

"Quite a few people are surprised that we run a rescue centre.

"I guess it's quite unusual but everyone is very supportive.

"Harwich has a community of animal lovers and we get messages on a daily basis, asking for support or advice.

"Whenever we've needed support, people have so quickly come together to help.

"We're so grateful to everyone who has helped us as we couldn’t do our work without the support of the community.

"I'm completely self-funded and pay for it all myself - the food, runs, cages and bedding.

"However, we've also received donations which help so much as the reality is that it's very expensive to do this.

"More animals mean more bills and some animals require specific housing or diets, so we're so grateful for any help we get.

"We're currently upgrading our aviary which wouldn’t be possible if it wasn’t for the good people of our town.

"Our plans moving forward are to just keep helping as and where required.

"We may have to slow down on new intakes for a short period, because of our baby, but we will still be able to offer support or advice and answer any questions.

"We hope to carry on helping the animals in need for years to come."

For more details, see @TheFarmAnimalRescue or https://www.facebook.com/TheFarmAnimalRescue/

All donations are welcome.