May 16, 2019 12.51 pm This story is over 58 months old

Police raid ‘sanctuary’, home to over 400 animals

It was over concerns for the welfare of the animals

Lincolnshire Police and the RSPCA have raided an animal sanctuary over concern for welfare.

People in the area said there is a large police presence at the Alternative Animal Sanctuary near Boston on Thursday, May 16.

The sanctuary is home to over 400 animals, including dogs, cats and dogs all up for adoption.

On its website, the Alternative Animal Sanctuary says that it has been in operation for over 40 years on an ‘informal basis’.

Lincolnshire Reporter reached out to the sanctuary for comment, but nobody was available at the time of writing.

A spokesperson for the RSPCA said: “RSPCA officers are accompanying Lincolnshire Police, with assistance from specialist vets and equine handlers from Bransby Horses, in the execution of a warrant at a site near Boston, Lincolnshire.

“No further information is available at this time.”

The Alternative Animal Sanctuary posted this picture in 2017.

The Charity Commision opened a statutory inquiry into the Alternative Animal Sanctuary in 2017. The commission said in a report that it has “serious concerns” about the sanctuary’s overreliance on a third party fundraising agency.

A spokesperson for Lincolnshire Police also said: “We attended a property in New York near Boston at 9am on 16 May, where a warrant was executed on behalf of the RSPCA due to concerns for animal welfare. We will support the RSPCA with their investigation.”