Sanctuary for stray cats shuts up shop

Julie’s Animal Refuge founder Julie Thompson at Kaipara Flats with Eddie, who was recently nursed back to health and rehomed. A Warkworth sanctuary for neglected, abused and abandoned animals will close on June 30 with owner Julie Thompson citing exhaustion as the main reason for the closure. Julie has been caring for the district’s unwanted strays, mainly cats, for nearly 30 years and set up her purpose-built refuge on Kaipara Flats Road eight years ago. The property was sold this month and has not been accepting animals since April 15. When Julie made the announcement on social media there w...