Today, the AWESOME is found in Sussex, England. 90-year-old Barby Keel has dedicated 54 years of her life to running the Barby Keel Animal Sanctuary in Sussex, UK, a long journey that she admits won’t come to an end anytime soon, provided she can stay on her feet. It all began back in the 1970’s, when a British army soldier stationed in Northern Ireland asked her to watch his dog while he was deployed. Fast-forward 50 years and she looks after more than 600 animals, including 160 cats, 16 pigs, 8 dogs, 6 horses, 100 chickens, and 80 rabbits. The 12-acre sanctuary, which she ran for 20 years all by herself but is now managed thanks to volunteers, provides a refuge for hundreds of abandoned, rescued, or abused animals from farms, kennels, or private owners. Despite having battled cancer three times, the animal-lover says she has “no plans” to slow down or retire, and THAT’S AWESOME.
