For more than five decades, Barby Keel has dedicated her life to saving neglected and abandoned animals. Now 90 years old, she still wakes up early to care for the more than 600 animals living at her Sussex sanctuary—including cats, pigs, rabbits, horses, and chickens. Since founding the Barby Keel Animal Sanctuary in the 1970s, she’s rescued an estimated 10,000 animals, with no plans to stop anytime soon. Despite surviving cancer three times, Keel insists that the animals remain her top priority—so much so that she once ended a relationship when asked to choose between her partner and the rescue.
What began with one dog has grown into a 12-acre refuge that’s now supported by a team of loyal volunteers. The sanctuary recently reopened its gates to the public for free Sunday visits, and donations help fund the food, shelter, and veterinary care for every animal. Keel says she may have stepped back from the heavy lifting, but she still takes joy in feeding the cats and checking in on the animals each day. “It’s a lovely life,” she said—and it’s clear the animals think so too.