'One of our greatest'... tributes paid to animal lover Breda

VOLUNTEER SPENT 25 YEARS HELPING CHARITY

- By WESLEY HOLMES

A WILDLIFE-LOVING woman who dedicated 25 years of her life to looking after injured and abandoned animals has died.

Breda Sweeney was praised as “one of our greatest animal heroes” by Freshfields Animal Rescue, where she worked as a volunteer for a quarter of a century.

She died on September 11 following struggles with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and a heart condition. She leaves behind a legacy of hundreds of rescued and rehabilitated animals and a wildlife garden at the animal charity in Ince Blundell.

Her daughter Elaine Donnellon, 53, said: “She dealt with some of the most difficult dogs. She gravitated towards the most troubled souls, the ones with challenging behaviour whom people had abused, and they weren't always easy.

“She looked after one dog for many years who was a biter. Because my mum taught him how to trust again, he actually improved enough to go up for adoption, and that was down to her work.

“She helped in the cattery and with wildlife and fostered cats and kittens. She took in dozens of cats as a fosterer and adopter.”

Breda, who started volunteering after retiring from her job at Sefton Women’s & Children’s Aid, became lead gardener at Freshfields 13 years ago and cultivated a wildlife garden which has now been named in her memory.