A Wiltshire sanctuary for farm animals is appealing for help after being left with vets’ bill for more than £800 after one of its pigs was put to sleep yesterday.

The Coppershell Farm Sanctuary was forced to tell vets to put Charlotte the Kune pig to sleep because she was suffering from chronic pain.

Genna Acourt, of the sanctuary at Gastard, took on Charlotte a month ago from a Devon smallholder knowing that she had problems with arthritis in her back legs.

But the chronic pain from which the pig suffered got worse and Charlotte began snapping at her back legs and was unable to walk.

Genna, 35, said: “It’s awfully sad. I am just gutted that we could not do more for her. We knew she was in pain when she arrived but we had no idea how much.

“I took her to the Langford Vets centre near Bristol for a CT scan but it showed she had arthritis in both hocks in her back legs. We couldn’t fix two hocks and ran out of options.

“The only thing left to help her was to say goodbye and she had a belly full of French fancies and cuddles as she left her broken body.”

Mrs Acourt said that an untreated infection in her legs as a youngster had left Charlotte with arthritis in both back legs.

“This means every step she took would of been like walking on glass.

“Pigs are bred to not show pain but despite our best efforts to control her pain she was still telling us she was in agony.

"Daily she snapped at her back end expressing her agony. She was unable to walk and often spent her day in the same spot.”

She added: “Charlotte's illness, like many others we have helped, is easily treated but until we give animals the treatment they deserve and stop using them as commodities they will continue to suffer.

“She found sanctuary space with us. We knew offering her space came with the risk of vet bills but how could we refuse.

“Thank you so much for the donations, the bills are approximately £900 even with this sad outcome and we are so grateful.”

Coppershell Farm Sanctuary is currently caring for more than 240 animals, including poultry, guinea pigs, goats, pigs, sheep, cows, horses, Alpacas and feral farm cats. They stay until they can be rehomed.

So far, more than 20 donors have helped raise £475 towards the vets’ fees for Charlotte.

To donate, go to https://uk.gofundme.com/f/s9yyv7-charlotte-needs-our-help