"When I got him as a piglet 10 years ago he weighed just a few kilos and had a cute little nose the size of a jacket button," Joanne said.

But over the decade Bill grew and grew and when recently he died, the gentle giant dwarfed other pigs and the snout on his huge 200 kilogram frame was bigger than a cut melon.

"Yet he was the gentlest, intelligent and most affectionate of animals you could ever wish for. I miss him terribly," said the lady who has been dubbed Saint Jo for her selfless caring for animals - irrespective of what they are, or how big or little.

The latest guest at her spacious animal refuge on Morisset Peninsula is a black and white cat she rescued from under a house.

"The poor thing had caught one of his front paws in a collar and it had been that way for so long the cat's skin had grown over both the collar and the paw," she said.

The cat's tail had also deformed from the cat's limping.

"The tail had to be amputated because it was infected, but we managed to save his paw and get the collar off," she said.

Each year at this time Joanne, who has two and sometimes three jobs to keep her animal refuge going, has an annual food appeal to help her feed the dozens of rescued moggies in her care including felines that are lame, old or just abandoned.

"I need all the help I can get at this time of the year when there's so many kittens given as Christmas presents and later dumped as unwanted gifts," she said.

"What I need most is long-term non-perishables such as tins or dry cat food and, of course, new owners."

Ms Hawken said despite finding a record number of homes this year, she still needs more for her adopted charges.

"Some are older cats from elderly owners who have had to give them up to move into a retirement home where animals aren't allowed.

"These are very loving cats and very easy to look after and ideal for a family pet," she said.

Can you help?

Ms Hawken would welcome your phone call on 0414 013089.