Ferne Animal Sanctuary

31/08/2024

Thank you so much Sonia! A little something for everyone there! 🤩

31/08/2024

Join us tomorrow as we celebrate the 30th Annual Ferne Fun Dog Show! 🐾🎉

We absolutely can’t wait to welcome you for a day packed will tail-wagging fun. Along with our variety of fun classes, we have some amazing doggy activities that you won’t want to miss!

Challenge your dog’s willpower in Temptation Alley, proudly sponsored by Heavenly Views Dog Park a stunning 3.5-acre enclosed park with panoramic views of the Blackdown Hills 🌳🐕

See if your pooch can hit a clear round on our Have-a-Go-Agility course, sponsored by
Pawsome Fun Paddock a secure 1-acre exercise field in Crewkerne featuring a sandpit, ball pool, tunnels, jumps, and agility equipment.

Or test their patience in the Sit and Stay Challenge, sponsored by Tail Mill Tail Trail, a beautiful 5-acre field in Merriott, Somerset 🌿🐶

A HUGE heartfelt thanks to our incredible sponsors for their support in making this event truly special.

We can’t wait to see you tomorrow, Sunday the 1st of September from 10am. Judging begins at 11am, with plenty of fun activities to enjoy throughout the day. Entry is £10 per car, which includes entry to the sanctuary and each class is just £2. All funds raised will go directly to supporting Ferne Animal Sanctuary.

Let’s make this our best year yet! ✨💚

30/08/2024

very interesting article and we're sure would have similar findings if researched in other species https://buff.ly/4cOdDuN

Dogs experience emotional contagion from the smell of human stress, leading them to make more ‘pessimistic’ choices, new research finds. The University of Bristol-led study, published in Scientific Reports today [22 July], is the first to test how human stress odours affect dogs' learning and em...

30/08/2024

Ever wanted to create your own signature scent? 🕯️

Now's your chance! Spend 2 hours on Sunday, 8th September from 11am-1pm exploring fragrances and essential oils, and then turn your perfect blend into a beautiful soy candle.

Relax with a cup of tea while your candle sets and design your own label. Join us for just £40pp.

Reserve your spot! 🎨 https://buff.ly/3Wr6ZnO

29/08/2024

Thank you Sighthound rehoming UK. Crackling and Henry have received their parcel!
We are always grateful for your support of these gorgeous greyhounds 😍

29/08/2024

Our welly socks in our Pet Supplies & Gift Shop are very popular! 🧦

We have a variety of Ladies, Mens and Childrens welly socks to chose from and keep your feet warm and dry! ☔

Which ones will you be choosing?

28/08/2024

We’re just a few days away from our 30th Annual Ferne Fun Dog Show and we need your help to make it a sweet success! 🧁 🍰

If you love baking and want to support a great cause, please help us fill our fundraising cake stand with some of your delicious cakes, cookies or other baked goods. Please feel free to donate whatever you can either on the day or ahead of time by dropping them off with one of our friendly staff members.

If you’re able to help, please could we ask that you include a full list of ingredients with your donation.

Any help is greatly appreciated and we can’t wait to see you all this Sunday! 💚🐾

28/08/2024

*Update.... he has been reunited with his owner!! 🤩. Thank you all for tagging and sharing.

Anyone lost this little cracker? Just been found in Chard and brought to us 🥰

28/08/2024

August is an important month for us at Ferne as it officially marks 85 years ago since Nina made the broadcast, we are so proud of the amount we have achieved in time period with resucing, rehabilitating and rehoming over 40,000 animals who have come to us for a second chance at happiness.

Monday also marks 46 years since Ferne opened to the public for the first time! To mark this our grand launch event saw over 1000 visitors, including one visitor from Geneva, Switzerland 💖

The Sanctuary was formally opened and held a sale which raised £1,045. There were displays by the Chard Marching Group, Donyatt Dog Training Club, and the Ilminster Air Cadets training core

Thank you so much to all our supporters who have made this possible and ensured we can still be here for animals in need today! 🙌

27/08/2024

Young Melody here is just starting her training with a view to potentially being a ridden horse.

In order to help keep her relaxed in an unfamiliar environment doing something very new, we brought her best pal Bradley along.

We couldn't help but think Bradley and Oli looked like bouncers! 🤣 'If your names not down, you're not coming in'😆

27/08/2024

We’re so excited to announce the sponsors for the final two classes featuring at our 30th Annual Ferne Fun Dog Show! 🐾🎉

Get ready for the Cutest Youngster class, where adorable pups will steal your heart. This class is kindly sponsored by Wiggle Tails Dog Paddock a safe enclosed paddock set within a peaceful location providing an area for dogs to run, play & train.

And don’t miss the grand finale of our Best in Show class, which is proudly sponsored by
Blackdown Hills National Landscape

Be sure to join us on Sunday the 1st of September from 10am and celebrate the anniversary of our biggest fundraising event of the year. You’re sure to see lots of wagging tails, fundraising fun, stalls and more – all to raise vital funds for the animals in our care. 🥰

We can’t wait to see you there! 🐶💚

26/08/2024

Last Call to Enter! 🐾

Time is almost up to submit your pet’s photo in our 2024 Online Dog and Cat Show! ⏰

Don’t miss out on this final chance to showcase your furry friend and help support the animals in our care.

With 10 unique classes to choose from, there’s a spot for every pet to shine and we can’t wait to see your entries! The deadline is Sunday the 1st of September and it’s just £2 per entry. Your participation will have a big impact, providing the love, care and support to animals who need it the most.

Submit your entry now through our quick and easy online form for a shot at winning a beautiful 1st place rosette, courtesy of Minster Veterinary Surgery and a feature in our magazine. Let your pet steal the spotlight! 🏅🐱🐕

https://buff.ly/4cuPTvl

26/08/2024

This we wanted to highlight two stories of some lovely dogs who have found themselves at Ferne 🐶

Bella had her eye removed, it was causing her problems and not responding to treatment. She will be recuperating with us until she finds her forever sofa to snore the days away.

Another poor little soul is Dizzy, she has arrived at 14 years old. She is hard of hearing, is very underweight, has a urinary tract infection and indicators of some other inflammation in her body. She will be with us until we have a full diagnosis. Dizzy is absolutely adorable and we will be doing everything we can to ensure her twilight days are comfortable and her tummy is full ❤️‍🩹

Your donations to Ferne Animal Sanctuary provide the vital care that animals like Bella and Dizzy desperately need during their most vulnerable moments. If you’d like to help, please donate today https://buff.ly/471anur

26/08/2024

Due to staff illness, the rehoming office will be unmanned today. Please leave a message on the answerphone, animal care will check these through the day and respond to anything urgent. All planned appointments will go ahead. Thank you for your patience. Have a great bank holiday! 🐕 🐈 😻

25/08/2024

The lovely Lorraine is taking on a wingwalk for us in October in memory of her beautiful Alife, who came from Ferne in 2009 💚 Sadly, the lovely Alfie recently passed away and Lorraine immediately wanted to do something in his honour.

Lorraine and her husband visited us on what would have been Alfie’s 16th birthday to find out more about Ferne and to tell us why taking on a wingwalk was so important to her:

“I wanted to take on this challenge to say thank you to Ferne for 15 amazing years with my Alfie. Every day with him was incredible, and I want to give something back.”

Alfie was born in August 2008 but before he was even 18 months old, he had already had 2 homes and ended up in Ferne’s kennels. His first home had labelled him as ‘destructive’, and the second family discovered they were allergic to dogs.

Lorraine had been patiently waiting for a Westie to need a home and was so excited when she received the phone call about him! She fell in love with him as soon as she met him.

After his first night with her, she was expecting to come downstairs to lots of chewed up furniture, but being the good boy that he was, Alfie had not done a thing and Lorraine knew it was meant to be 💚

Thank you so much to Lorraine for giving Alfie such a perfect home for all those years, and for coming back to Ferne to support us further.

Lorraine has chosen to self-fund her challenge, so all of the sponsorship she raises will come directly to us and help more animals in need. If you can support her at all, please donate via her JustGiving page:

https://buff.ly/3SPUSQb

25/08/2024

Let's talk chinchillas 🐾

While these adorable fluffballs steal our hearts with their charm, it's essential to understand that they're not your typical pet. Chinchillas have specific needs and behaviors that require careful attention and understanding.

At Ferne, we've rescued numerous chinchillas, providing them with the specialised care they deserve. From dust baths to proper diet, we're committed to ensuring our chinchilla residents thrive in a safe and loving environment.

Visit us to learn more about chinchilla care and see these fascinating creatures up close https://buff.ly/4cfItfc

24/08/2024

Thank you for this wonderful gift Debby!

24/08/2024

Young Ulfric making some big decisions today!

Our shop doesn't just contain some paw-tastic sovenirs from your visit or a present for a family member, but we also stock pet supplies including toys, treats and even a card game you can play with your dogs! 🐶

We are a stockist for Su-bridge products, if you find something we don't have let us know and we can order it in! 🐾

23/08/2024

Bella has a weekly bath to keep her happy and comfortable in her skin. Here she is getting ready for her day at the vets tomorrow, all nice and fresh.

23/08/2024

Calling all animal lovers! Ferne Animal Sanctuary Needs you! 🐑🦆🐇

Are you passionate about making a difference to the lives of our furry and feathered residents? If so, we'd love to have you join our pack of dedicated volunteers 💚

We have lots of different pawsitions you could fill including 👇
Helping care for the animals
Raising money for our charity in one of shops, fundraising, visitor centre and onsite shop
Engaging with children in our Creative Corner
Maintaining our Sanctuary on estates
Becoming a drivers assistant
Exploring the Sanctuary with visitors as a Animal and Sanctuary Guide

Our rescue centre is a friendly and inclusive environment where everyone is welcome! 🏳️‍🌈

To ensure the safety of our volunteers, please note we do have age requirements for a lot of our roles.

If you're ready to make a difference to the lives of animals when they need it most, please fill out our form on the website https://buff.ly/3X9luxd

22/08/2024

Meet Tabitha! Look at that gorgeous face… 😍

Tabitha came in with her pal Queenie as part of a welfare case. We don’t really know how old they are, but we do know they are both absolutely gorgeous! Tabitha is a real character and always comes running to greet us for a back scratch or to see what tasty snacks we are bringing.

It’s heartbreaking to think how she was neglected so badly, when she just loves her people 💔

Tabitha is just one of over 300 animals who now get to spend the rest of their days safe and loved here at Ferne. But our sanctuary is still facing a crisis and we urgently need your help to keep Ferne open, so that animals like Tabitha can continue to receive the care they deserve.

To everyone who has supported our Urgent Appeal, thank you from the bottom of our hearts. Your donations, big or small, are already making a real difference. But we still have a long way to go.

Please, donate today to ensure that Tabitha and her friends always have a safe place to call home. 🙏
https://buff.ly/3yFaS0P

22/08/2024

Last Call for Entries! ⏰

The deadline for our Summer Short Story Competition 2024 is just around the corner – Sunday the 1st of September! If you’ve been dreaming up a story featuring animals and the amazing work we do at Ferne, now is the time to bring it to life 🐾✨

Whether you’re a budding young writer or an experienced storyteller, there’s still time to get your entry in. Remember, your story doesn’t need to be set at Ferne; it can be anywhere, in any time, as long as it reflects kindness, compassion, and responsible pet ownership 🌟

Our Ferne Ambassador, the talented Zoe Jasko is eagerly awaiting to read your stories and with a chance to have your story published in Magazine, this is an opportunity you won’t want to miss!

Head to the link below to submit your story today. Make sure to include all the necessary details - your name, story title, word count, and age category.

Good luck, and happy writing! ✍️📖

https://buff.ly/3YQ3wSy

21/08/2024

Julian enjoying a good spruce up!

He came to us as an unwanted gift from well meaning family members.

He now enjoys having the entire sanctuary to roam with his buddy Andy. They are often found in the muck heap (of all the places they could go!) or they will hang out in one of the chicken runs depending how the mood takes them 😍

21/08/2024

Our 30th Annual Ferne Fun Dog Show is just around the corner and we can’t wait to announce two more classes taking place on Sunday the 1st of September 🐾🎉

Get ready to be charmed by the big hearts in our Loveliest Large Dog class and don’t miss the little ones as they take the lead in the class of Best Child Handler. Both are proudly sponsored by Verm-X experts in naturally effective gut vitality aids. A huge thanks for their incredible support.

Be sure to join us for an unforgettable anniversary of our favourite event! All funds raised will make a difference for the animals in our care, ensuring they get the love and support they deserve 🐶 💖

20/08/2024

So, the weather turned a little yestersday.

The wind really picked up and Jessi was frightened bless her.

We went and had some time having cuddles in the social unit where Jessi then spent the night.

It's a lovely quiet room with a cozy sofa to feel a bit more like home ❤️‍🩹

20/08/2024

Whether your pet is playful, pretty, or just plain cute, we want to see them! 🐾

Don’t miss out on our Online Dog and Cat Show 2024! This is your chance to win and support the 300+ animals in our care at the same time. There’s still plenty of time to enter your pet’s most adorable photo. It’s super simple and entries cost just £2 per class.

Head to the link below to find out more and submit your picture purr-fect snaps today! 📸🐶🐱

https://buff.ly/4dsgomr

19/08/2024

Happy Jaxon!!! Have the best time in your new home! 🏡

19/08/2024

Discover Fun & Learning at Ferne! 🌟

Our play equipment isn't just about monkeying around – it's a gateway to learning and laughter! Our outdoor play space offers young visitors a chance to unleash their creativity while discovering the importance of animal welfare.

Through imaginative play, kids learn firsthand what it takes to keep animals happy and healthy. Every moment at our sanctuary is an opportunity for education and excitement! 🎨🐾

But it's not just about fun and games – it's about securing a brighter future for our furry friends. Your support helps sustain our sanctuary, ensuring we can continue providing love and care to unwanted and abandoned animals. 💖

Come play, learn, and make a difference at Ferne Animal Sanctuary! https://buff.ly/4634nRG

19/08/2024

The rehoming office will be closed today. The animal care team will check messages and reply to anything urgent throughout the day. 😊

18/08/2024

This weeks Success Story is the gorgeous Jack who found his furever home just in time for Christmas last year! ❄️ 💚

His new owner gave us an update on how he's doing 👇

"When we first went to visit Jack at Ferne, he was sitting on his shelf in his room. He didn't bat an eyelid and just kind of sat there looking at us. I offered my hand to Jack and he gave it a little sniff and started purring, allowing me to gently stroke his head.

We brought Jack home a week or so later.

He settled in quickly and within a few hours he was eating and exploring his new home.

He loves to sleep in his hammock or curl up on the sofa. He loves Dreamies and tuna. He loves human company and being around his humans - we mostly work from home and he will often sleep during the day curled up on a chair in the office room. He likes to wake us up for work by jumping on the bed and sitting on us meowing, nuzzling us and cuddling in close! He likes to accompany us to the bathroom.

Jack is very laid back and bonded with and gets on well with our other rescue Lily (although she wasn't sure about him at first!) and he made friends with a young cat who lives opposite us - they enjoy playing and wrestling together even though Jack is quite a bit older.

Usually, you don't know what is going on inside a cat's mind but we get the impression from Jack that he actually really loves us!! He likes to go out for a wander but doesn't stay out long. He loves being at home and we can see he is really content and happy with life.

Jack's age was estimated to be around 3 years when he came to us, possibly a little older - some people might be inclined to adopt a very young cat or kitten, but Jack has turned out to be our perfect cat - so loving and homely.

To anyone looking to rehome a cat, we'd recommend giving an adult cat their forever home.

We'd love if Jack could talk and tell us how he came to be at Ferne"

Thank you so much for giving Jack a chance at happiness and a loving home! 🏡