Eclipse Animal Sanctuary has applied to Dumfries and Galloway Council to convert a former gin distillery at Dalton into a sanctuary for about 20 rescued exotic animals and eight pet dogs. The plans say it would not be open to the public.
Planned residents include a wolfdog, lynx, turkey vulture and American red fox. The plans also propose a permanent home; meanwhile, EAS hopes to use an existing static caravan for round-the-clock supervision, emergency response and site security. The former distillery and visitor centre opened in 2017 and closed in 2023; visitor numbers were said to have reached up to 20,000 a year.
The supporting statement calls the project “low-impact rural diversification” and says activity would be lower than under the distillery use in terms of noise, operating hours, traffic and general activity. The sanctuary's representative told the BBC it is self-funded; the lynx was rescued during lockdown when at risk of euthanasia, and many other animals were saved from neglect. The spokesperson said nearby farms' livestock regularly approach the boundary and the animals have remained comfortable around one another. Predatory animals are housed in specially designed secure enclosures, inspected daily and annually under the site's Dangerous Wild Animal licence conditions.
