Galahad’s Animal Sanctuary GoFundMe to raise $5k to support camels Milkshake and Catapult

A Gisborne animal sanctuary home to the iconic rescue camels Milkshake and Catapult needs the community’s help to support more of the gentle giants.

A Gisborne animal sanctuary home to beloved rescue camels Milkshake and Catapult is calling community’s help to give as many of the gentle giants a loving home as possible.

Galahad’s Animal Sanctuary, run by Lynne McAlister, is a home to 53 rescued animals, including the Milkshake, Catapult and Harley Quinn.

Ms McAlister rescued the camels from auctions, where they were headed to the knackers to be turned into pet food.

Gisborne animal activist Lynne McAlister is on a mission to rescue as many camels as she can. Picture: Supplied.

Ms McAlister is now on a mission to rescue as many camels as she can and educate people about the “loving, gentle and intelligent creatures”.

“I’ve always kind of spoken for animals and been a strong voice in activism for animals,” she said.

“When I moved to this property I just decided I want to walk the walk, not just talk the talk and I wanted to rescue as many as I personally could.

Ms McAlister said a lot of people think that camels were “grumpy animals that spit”, but at her sanctuary visitors can see a different side to them.

Rescue camels Milkshake and Catapult are “living their best lives” at Galahad’s Animal Sanctuary in Gisborne. Picture: Supplied.

“Often it’s the life that they lead that causes them to behave that way,” she said.

“They’re used for camel rides endlessly or they’re carrying large burdens.

“My camels are just happy, they’re just living their best life.”

She runs a B&B and has guests come and stay at the sanctuary where she holds events, runs tours and teaches people about the animals that she has rescued and shares their stories.

Ms McAlister said people were able to meet and have experiences with animals in a “different way” at her sanctuary.

She has also rescued cows, horses, donkeys, alpacas, dogs, chickens and sheep.

Her sheep freely roam the property and run over to her and her visitors to get “hugs and pats”.

“A lot of people don’t realise how much personality that sheep have,” she said.

“They’re very much like big dogs really — they love coming over for cuddles.”

Catapult the rescue camel likes kisses. Picture: Supplied.

Ms McAlister said she wanted to do as much as she can to care for animals and give them a good life and reinvests all of her income into looking after the rescued animals.

The expenses in maintaining the sanctuary are large, and now Ms McAlister is calling on the community to donate to her GoFundMe to help her raise $5000 to support her beloved camels.

The money would go towards purchasing and installing a livestock chute, which was used to secure the large animals for veterinary, husbandry and hygiene care.

A vet won’t go near a 600-700kg camel, cow or horse without a livestock chute, and Ms McAlister said the equipment was needed to give her rescued animals the best care possible.

Ms McAlister said buying a livestock chute for the sanctuary would help support her mission to rescue more camels.

“As I watch them play and roam freely during the day, I know I made the right decision,” she said.

“I had saved three lives and made a difference in their world, and that was all that mattered,” she said.