Our History
We are here to take in animals who have become homeless due to a change in circumstance
As well as those who have experienced neglect, mistreatment or abandonment. No matter their past, every animal that comes into our care is treated with kindness, love, and respect.
Our mission is to provide a safe and nurturing environment where each animal can recover, rebuild trust, and prepare for a loving new home.
We pride ourselves on the high standard of care we deliver, ensuring every animal receives the comfort, compassion, nutrition, and veterinary support they need.
Rehoming is at the heart of everything we do. Our carefully considered rehoming process is designed to create lasting matches between animals and people, always guided by the best interests of the animal.
We take the time to understand both the needs of our animals and the lifestyles of potential rehomers, helping to ensure successful, lifelong relationships.
Margaret Green, who founded our charity in 1965, along with her father Mr Jerry Green, was an amazing lady with incredible strength and determination.
After searching for a suitable site, the first centre location was decided on the fringe of the village of Church Knowle in 35 acres of gently sloping land, situated in a beautiful valley in the Purbeck Hills, 6 miles from Wareham and 8 from Swanage.
From the very beginning, with Margaret Green herself at the helm, the charity provided expert veterinary attention for animals, spaying and neutering for animals, pet boarding, a welfare visiting service and a special remembrance of departed pets.
The earliest animals included retired pit ponies from Wales and many wild birds after the RSPB helped fund a saltwater pool, where oiled sea birds could live during their rehabilitation. They also included Susan, a thirteen year old Jersey cow and Marigold, a Jersey/Guernsey cross and her calf Wildeyes.
Decades of care for rescued animals passed with many more milestones, such as opening our first sole dog rescue centre, Lincoln Farm near Bere Regis. Shortly after, we opened our Wingletang Centre just outside Tavistock, Devon that cares for cats and dogs.
Around this time, we introduced microchipping for every dog being rehomed in 1990 – something that the charity promotes fully to this day. Many thousands more animals were helped during this time, including Woody, a lamb with a broken leg that found its way into the local Suttles quarry and needed rescuing by the charity.
Margaret Green retired as a Trustee of the charity after 35 years dedicated to rescuing animals. She remained involved with the charity until she sadly passed away on Christmas Eve in 2009 aged 94.
Margaret’s dedication and love never wavered and shortly before her passing, she was ensuring that provisions had been made for her annual Christmas donation of carrots for Angel and the other horses at the Sanctuary.
Our Values
Rescue
Rescuing homeless, abandoned, neglected or mistreated animals
Care
Ensuring treatment, rehabilitation and respect for every animal
Rehome
Finding suitable forever homes for the animals in our care
Support
Providing lifelong support for owners and their rescued pets
Church Knowle Rehoming and Visitor Centre
Our centre near Wareham, Dorset, that cares for cats, horses, donkeys, pigs, sheep, goats, rabbits, guinea pigs, chickens and ducks.
Church Knowle is also home to the charity’s Head Office, which houses the CEO, Finance and Fundraising teams.
Lincoln Farm Rescue and Rehoming Centre
Our centre near Blandford, Dorset, that cares for dogs.
Wingletang Rescue and Rehoming Centre
Our centre near Tavistock, Devon, that cares for dogs and cats.
We also benefit from eight charity shops in the Dorset area. Our retail journey started in 2015, with our first shop opening in Winton, Bournemouth. Since then, the shops have gone from strength to strength, not only bringing in a regular source of income, but being a pillar in the local community. We are very lucky to have volunteers who, along with shop staff, help run the operations.