Ferne Animal Sanctuary was founded in Dorset, England by

Nina Douglas-Hamilton, Duchess of Hamilton Nina Mary Benita Douglas-Hamilton, Duchess of Hamilton (née Nina Mary Benita Poore; 13 May 1878 – 12 January 1951) was a British peeress and animal welfare activist. She campaigned for humane slaughter. Early life Douglas-Hamilton was born ...

at the beginning of the

Second World War World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

. Since 1975 it has been sited near Wambrook, Somerset.

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The Duchess was a noted anti-vivisectionist, and was horrified at the British Pet Holocaust. Ferne Animal Sanctuary dogs

The intention behind the sanctuary was to provide a temporary refuge for animals belonging to service men and women who had left their homes to fight, or which were likely to be abandoned or euthanased. The Duchess had a statement broadcast on the BBC: "Homes in the country urgently required for those dogs and cats which must otherwise be left behind to starve to death or be shot." The Duchess established an animal sanctuary at her home, the Ferne Estate in

Dorset Dorset ( ; Archaism, archaically: Dorsetshire , ) is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in South West England. It is bordered by Somerset to the north-west, Wiltshire to the north and the north-east, Hampshire to the east, t ...

in 1940. The "sanctuary" was a heated aerodrome (sic) in Ferne. Staff were sent out to rescue pets from the East End of London. Many hundreds of animals were taken back initially to her home in

St John's Wood St John's Wood is a district in the London Borough of Camden, London Boroughs of Camden and the City of Westminster, London, England, about 2.5 miles (4 km) northwest of Charing Cross. Historically the northern part of the Civil Parish#An ...

. She apologised to her neighbours who complained about the barking.

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At the end of the war many owners failed to return to collect their pets and so Ferne Animal Sanctuary took on a more permanent role and since then has given refuge and safety to thousands of animals in the community. The sanctuary has over 300 rehomed animals on site, including horses, ponies, cattle, mules, donkey, sheep, goats, chickens, guinea pigs, ferrets, chinchillas, degu, tortoises, rabbits and an aviary. All set in the beautiful Blackdown Hills and continues to rehabilitate, rehome or give a place of sanctuary for animals to live out their lives. The sanctuary relies on public donations and was registered as a charity in 1965. In 1975, the sanctuary moved some 50 miles west, to its present premises of 75 acres near Wambrook, Somerset, overlooking the

River Yarty The River Yarty is a river in east Devon, England, near the boundary with Somerset and Dorset. Course The river is about long. The source is in Staple Hill in the Blackdown Hills. It flows on a roughly southern course through Bishopswood, brie ...

valley. 2015 saw the celebration of the 75th anniversary of the sanctuary.

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* {{Official website 1940 establishments in England Animal charities based in the United Kingdom Charities based in Somerset Tourist attractions in Somerset

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