Ferne Animal Sanctuary

Ferne Animal Sanctuary was founded in Dorset, England by Nina Douglas-Hamilton, Duchess of Hamilton at the beginning of the Second World War.[1] Since 1975 it has been sited near Wambrook, Somerset.

Ferne Animal Sanctuary
Date openedSecond World War
LocationWambrook, Somerset
Land area51 acres

Beginning

The Duchess was a noted anti-vivisectionist,[2][3] and was horrified at the British Pet Holocaust.

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."[4]

The Duchess established an animal sanctuary at her home, the Ferne Estate in Dorset in 1940.[5] The "sanctuary" was a heated aerodrome (sic) in Ferne.[6] 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. She apologised to her neighbours who complained about the barking.[4]

Continuation

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. It was registered as a charity in 1965.[7]

In 1975, the Sanctuary moved some 50 miles west, to its present premises of 51 acres near Wambrook, Somerset, overlooking the River Yarty valley.

2015 saw the celebration of the 75th anniversary of the Sanctuary.[8][9][10][11]

References
  1. Website for Ferne Animal Sanctuary "Ferne Animal Sanctuary is a safe place for unwanted animals" Accessed 11 January 2017
  2. Rappaport, Helen (2001). Encyclopedia of women social reformers. Santa Barbara, Calif. &c.: ABC-Clio. p. 393. ISBN 9781576071014.
  3. Wynne-Tyson, Jon (2004). "Hamilton, Nina Mary Benita Douglas- [née Nina Mary Benita Poore], duchess of Hamilton and Brandon (1878–1951), animal welfare activist". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/47021. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  4. The little told story of the massive WWII pet cull
  5. About The Sanctuary… Where We’ve Been & Where We’re Going "1940: Nina, Duchess of Hamilton establishes what becomes Ferne Animal Sanctuary at her home, the Ferne Estate in Dorset" at ferneanimalsanctuary.org Accessed 7 July 2017
  6. McSmith, Andy; Correspondent, Chief Political (12 June 1999). "Press dynasty is coming home from exile to a '£6m' mansion". The Guardian.
  7. "The Ferne Animal Sanctuary". Charity Commission. Retrieved 24 January 2017.
  8. family-fun:Ferne_Animal_Sanctuary at dayoutwiththekids.co.uk
  9. things-to-do:ferne-animal-sanctuary at visitsomerset.co.uk
  10. Story of a dog at Ferne animal sanctuary dog-struggling-depression-cannot-out at mirror.co.uk/news
  11. '100_miles_cycled_for_Somerset_Appeal' at dorsetdogs.org.uk
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