Pet Advice Guides

Need help with a problem pet? Our pet advice pages cover many topics about dogs, cats, horses, choosing the right pet, looking after goats and farm animals based on years of experience. We help owners achieve long lasting, rewarding and balanced relationships with their pets. Our aim is to provide pet advice to reduce the [...]

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Hay appeal for ponies

Until the milder weather comes and the grass starts growing again we have to feed the ponies hay every day. Horses are grazing animals and their digestion is designed for a constant input of food. Hay forms the bulk of their diet in winter with feeds of oats and pony nuts as well. [...]

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In The Dog House Online

Our online pet store is now open. You can buy a range of products including Dorwest Herbs, Greeting Cards, Books, Gifts, Vintage Items and lots more interesting things. You can also make a donation directly to the animals with our sponsor a pet section. Subscribe to our popular newsletter and we’ll deliver it direct to [...]

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About The Petsamaritans

The Pet Samaritans Animal Sanctuary is home to many rescued animals. We take in all varieties from goats, horses, ponies, dogs, cats, poultry, birds and including farm animals and wildlife. We are run by volunteers and it is always a financial struggle to keep going. We are helping animals every day – pet rescue is always in demand. Priority is given to cases where people have gone into hospital or residential care or have passed away and we have an emergency pet care scheme. We have a non-destruction policy and happy endings are what it’s all about! Reuniting lost pets with their owners is one of our many services. Our rescued horses usually stay with us for life. It’s a huge commitment and we have no government funding. We hold regular yard and antique sales at the Dog House Visitor Centre, so pop along to find out more. Cakes, tea, coffee served at the weekend and you can join our Rambling Rovers dog walking club.

We’re now open on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday – between 12.0noon to 4.0pm on Thursday and Friday and 11.0am to 4.0pm on Sunday. Please note that we are closed when it snows – feeding and watering the animals takes all day in bad weather.

Sanctuary Life

Urgent Appeal for Donations

Everything is harder and more costly in winter and we are struggling to cope with vet bills at present. So many cats and dogs need help and care and medication and vaccination when they come in to us. We never put them to sleep while they are free from pain, eating well and [...]

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Ponies keep warm

The ponies are glad to come in when the weather is bad, they don’t need to be caught up – just open the gates and call them and their little legs go like clockwork as they dash for the stables. Most of it is because they are hoping for an extra feed! Still, [...]

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Geese breaking the ice

It’s freezing cold here this morning and all the water in the buckets is frozen. Darth and Vader have had a good peck at the ice but even with their strong beaks they needed a bit of help to break the ice. This pair of ganders are still aggressive with the other geese who [...]

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Cats mark their territory

Has Grondhal fallen in love with one of our security cameras? Or, more likely, is she marking her territory? Cats do like to rub up against the strangest objects but it’s a desire to make their prescence felt – ‘hey guys, this is my patch!’ Cats are territorial creatures and like other felines [...]

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Lovely lurcher looking for a new home

We especially like lurchers and when Sabrina came in as a stray we fell in love with her straight away. Why wasn’t she claimed? Impossible to know, she is a real doll, one of the sweetest girls ever and so beautiful. Her colouring is amazing, a rich golden brindle, with four white socks [...]

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What is halhal?

Goats are gentle and non-aggressive creatures, they are intelligent and inquisitive and vegetarian. Their diet consists of herbs, leaves, grasses, twigs and grain. They make wonderful companion friends and will follow you about and always want to be with you. A mother goat is devoted to her kids and will maintain ties with [...]

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In memory of Alfie

ALFIE – passed on to cat heaven at the end of 2011. He came in to us as a stray and a more loving and placid cat would be hard to find. Alfie had been with us for a couple of years and had settled well – we love them all but Alfie [...]

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Caring for canine paws

This dog came in to us as a stray and look at her poor feet. This is just what we don’t want to see. It must be very uncomfortable, if not painful, for dogs to have to walk with long nails. Such neglect can deform the angle of the paw too. If you [...]

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Happy ending for Riley

This Labrador puppy was scared and hungry when he came but he has a fantastic home and here’s what his new people have to say about him now: Hi. Just to let you all know Riley has settled in amazingly well. He is growing fast and has two lovely walks a day in our local [...]

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Dog Attack

They are the dogs most likely to be dumped and staffis get a lot of bad press. Some of it is deserved. The recent attack on a little girl was terrible and shocking. Some staffis are protective of their owners and need to be constantly supervised and kept on a lead in public [...]

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