Already in welfare at 4 months, Trixie looked chocolate box cute and had a queue of people who wanted her. As more of a "get-up-and-go" dog than a lap-dog, it was important for her to go to an acitve family home. Lucky girl, she has really landed on her feet with lots of exercise and play, a new best friend, and fun training classes to boot. After a long day being busy she loves nothing more than to flake out in the sun with her playmate!

Tilly is very special. She was the most extra-ordinarily damaged dog, our longest serving and problematic rescue dog and one we really didn`t ever think we would manage to re-home.

Tilly had clearly suffered the most horrendous ordeals when someone had tried to teach this naturally gentle and sensitive dog to be a savage guard dog. Tilly had been badly beaten, she had been hit and kicked, she had been put on a short tether and beaten with chains, she had been taunted with food and then beaten for trying to eat.

When Tilly first came into us she would launch herself at the wire fencing barking ferociously - but open the door and walk towards her and Tilly would be cowering in the corner. Try to put a lead on her and she would snap at you whilst simultaneously wetting herself, again hiding in the corner.

She would cringe at the sound of metal, cow away from having her collar touched, from a lead, from a hand stretching towards her. She loved food but would cower and hide when you went in with a food bowl and steadfastly refused to take food from the hand. It took well over a year for us to be able to say that we had made any real headway with Tilly.

Eventually we managed to muzzle train her, to put a lead on her, to get her out walking, to sit for her food and to eat it in our presence, to take a treat, to enjoy gentle grooming and running games in the field. She even learnt “up” and “paw” but she could not quite bring herself to trust us completely and she hated having to meet anyone new.

Homing prospects? Hmmm, to say they were limited is to put it mildly, but we all loved Tilly and were determined to find her a suitable home somehow. The home that finally came forward for her really could not have been more perfect. With a male rotty to act as her role model and a quiet, rural location, Tilly`s homing was a dream come true and the transformation in her just magical.

Soft, trusting eyes, sitting at feet and waiting her turn for a biscuit, loving to go for walks and even doing some agility, she has developed beyond our wildest hopes. We really cannot thank her adopters enough for enabling her to be truly happy and contented – something we never saw in her or ever expected to. Tilly has, finally, learnt to trust.

Cheetah is brother to Leopard and Lynx, both still with us awaiting their own "happy ending". Like them he had been born and raised under a garden shed and was therefore extremely nervous of people, although never aggressive.

Having undergone some re-habilitation here he was extremely lucky when his two adopters came forward for him. With two other cats and in a rural home, it couldn`t have been better. Within just a couple of weeks they have helped Milo to become a confident boy who loves to play and loves to lay in front of the fire having his tummy tickled.

Gizzy was a lovely Border terrier cross that just got stuck with us. A highly intelligent and very active mischief maker he had a lovely personality but somehow just couldn`t resist getting into trouble. Add to that a highly developed hunting instinct - especially when it came to badgers - and a very talented escapologist, he was nigh on impossible and we began to despair of ever finding him the right home.

Eventually his lucky day came and a lovely couple who already had a similarly naughty Border Terrier cross came forward in search of a friend for him. It was love at first sight for all, the dogs included! Gizmo now has a wonderful time with lots of long country walks, lots of training and a wide social circle of doggy friends.

He really has landed on his feet in doggy heaven.

Poor little Poppy had experienced a very rough deal in life, living in a small outside kennel and used as a breeding machine. When she came to us she crawled on her tummy and would roll fearfully onto her back in submission every time we looked at her. (See our latest newletter for more details).

Now, as you can see, Poppy is adopted and thriving - what a dog`s life!

Denzil came into us with his blind staffy x companion when their elderly owner was no longer able to care for them. Ruby was quickly fosered by one of our volunteers, but Denzil stuck with us. He was a lovely boy but, because he was a staffy, no-one wanted him.

Lucky for Denzil one of our new volunteers fell in love with him and it wasn`t long before we were cat testing Denzil and taking him for his pre-home check. As Denzil had never lived with cats before we all had our fingers crossed that all we be well - and it was! Denzil is now happily settled with his new dad Ben, loves sleeping with the cat and is an avid football fan!

Many of you will know Primrose, either from meeting her up at the centre or reading about her antics in newsletters and articles. Nervous and subdued to start, they became little demons once they had found their feet (and slimmed down!). They would work as a pair, upending bunny and hen runs to access the food and eggs, meandering up to the top gate to great new visitors and rootling up the soil - they were a brilliant pair of troublemakers!

Sadly Boris had to be euthanaised earlier this year due to failing kidneys, and we all worried how Primrose could cope on her own. She adjusted well, accepting our goats as company and additional human time from staff whenever possible. We were delighted when, very unexpectedly, a wonderful and experienced home came forward to offer her a perfect retirement home. Primrose has not been there long but has quickly settled in, loving the new space and all the extra attention she is getting.  She follows Debbie across the fields and is thoroughly enjoying the extra browsing...and having tomatoes (her favourite!) and sweetcorn in with her pig nuts - lucky little piggy! 

Mogwai was found by a dog walker earlier this year, a cowering bundle of rancid mats, terrified and growling. He had been thrown from a car on the main road and left to die - which he surely would have done had he not been spotted. Weighing practically nothing with clear signs of muscle wastage, his matted coat stank, his rear end filthy and infected with blue bottles laying eggs in the mess. With his head hanging and legs wobbling, he had all but given up hope. The vet that dealt with him was great, very gentle, very kind, very steady – and reduced to tears by his condition.

Mogwai - known as Muggie - responded to veterinary treatment and began to learn to trust humans again, although he remained understandably unsure of strangers. We were all delighted when he was adopted by a family who already board their ex-rescue dog with us. Although he still very much a working progress  they are doing wonderfully with him, improving his confidence and trust, and slowly getting him back to normality. 

This beautiful young German Shepherd came into us at 8 months. She had never been on a lead, never been walked, never worn a collar, never seen outside her little house and garden...she had never even eaten proper dog food. The poor girl was scared of absolutely everything because everything was new. She loved other dogs but was very wary with people and would not come to hand if she could possibly avoid it. A very different story now - just a couple of months later in her new home and she is going to fun dog shows and even winning rossettes!

Ollie got stuck with us for several months after being brought in for terrorising the dog. A young and intelligent cat he was bored and frustrated, despite hide and seek games with his food, lots of toys and plenty of time to charge around in the cattery garden here. With a well developed and wonderfully naughty sense of humour he would put off potential adopters by charging around like a lunatic and pouncing on their hands and feet - hours of fun as far as Ollie was concerned! Luckily for him an experienced couple who could see through his naughtiness to the wonderful cat that we know came forward and adopted him. He settled in instantly and. although he still has his mad moments, is also proving an extrmemly affectionate and relaxed cat. Thank you for giving him the chance!