Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 1 hour ago
Imagine your whole world being no bigger than a few steps.
For years, that was Retta’s reality.
Confined to a tiny, dirty cage beside a tourist resort in Armenia, she had nowhere to roam, nowhere to hide, and no escape from the visitors who stopped to stare, take photos and feed her through the bars.
Then, in 2024, everything changed.
Alongside our partners, FPWC, we rescued Retta and brought her to safety. For the first time in years, the cage door closed behind her for good.
IAR Patron Peter Egan was there when Retta was rescued. It’s a moment he says he will never forget.
And this Sunday, 23 August, he is sharing her story as part of International Animal Rescue’s BBC Radio 4 Appeal.
Because behind every rescue is an individual animal. A life that can change completely when someone chooses to care.
If you’re in the UK, please tune in to BBC Radio 4 this Sunday and support our appeal.
Your kindness could help give more animals like Retta the chance to leave suffering behind
Imagine your whole world being no bigger than a few steps.
For years, that was Retta’s reality.
Confined to a tiny, dirty cage beside a tourist resort in Armenia, she had nowhere to roam, nowhere to hide, and no escape from the visitors who stopped to stare, take photos and feed her through the bars.
Then, in 2024, everything changed.
Alongside our partners, FPWC, we rescued Retta and brought her to safety. For the first time in years, the cage door closed behind her for good.
IAR Patron Peter Egan was there when Retta was rescued. It’s a moment he says he will never forget.
And this Sunday, 23 August, he is sharing her story as part of International Animal Rescue’s BBC Radio 4 Appeal.
Because behind every rescue is an individual animal. A life that can change completely when someone chooses to care.
If you’re in the UK, please tune in to BBC Radio 4 this Sunday and support our appeal.
Your kindness could help give more animals like Retta the chance to leave suffering behind
