Woodside Animal Sanctuary

Woodside will always try its best to ensure that all pets find appropriate, loving homes. However, due to age or illness, some will never be selected and remain as much loved residents. We are now one of the few charities in the area that does so.

Our history
Realising that indiscriminate and accidental breeding was at the root of their problem, Carole piloted a spay and neuter programme and the group began its pioneering work.

In the first year, two dogs, one litter of puppies and two litters of kittens were safely re-homed.  Thirty more animals were spayed or neutered through group fund-raising, with owners paying weekly after the operation.  

Visiting homes for payment—which was often just 50p per week— was frequently in the most deprived areas of Plymouth and not for the faint hearted.

In 1981, the RSPCA began funding kennelling facilities at Fursdon which, in addition to considerable subsidising from Carole, enabled over 70 animals to be given a second chance. In 1985, with the number of rescued animals at 550, Carole and Dave sold Fursden and moved to Woodside at Elfordleigh, little knowing the enormity of what lay ahead.

With a lovely cottage and grounds for Dave’s early retirement, but no boarding income to subsidise her welfare work, decisions needed to be made for the future. TAG decided to change its name to that of the new premises and Carole continued to give her time for free (as she does to this day), but fundraising had to move up a gear—no mean feat for what was still a small group of people.

Those times were very hard indeed.  Although the fledgling sanctuary was a ramshackle huddle of donated sheds and portacabins, its activities soon caught the attention of local people and animals began to flood in.  Unfortunately, significant cash gifts did not, and there were regular periods when closing the doors was a distinct possibility. 

Despite its roller coaster ride to present day, Woodside’s broad field of work continued and evolved.  Slowly the shanty town of mismatched and decrepit outbuildings disappeared and in 1997, the new sanctuary re-build began in earnest.  Completion would be gradual—we kept our pledge to remain open— and even today, some building work remains on a back burner until funds are available.

Eventually the Woodside Animal Welfare Trust became a fully fledged, registered charity. Its original aims have only been altered in order to embrace animals other than cats and dogs.  We are now the only sanctuary in our area to take in most types of domestic pets, as well as a number of tame farm animals.

Adoption policy
The purpose of our sanctuary is to provide loving new homes for unwanted pets. We believe we have a duty of care to give them the best second chance possible, and not just the first home offered.

We’re aware that some organisations have rigid rules about not homing to elderly owners or families with young children. We prefer to take each home on merit and place the needs of the pet first. Some dogs adore young children and enjoy their boisterous play, while others, often mature pets, look for a low exercise, quiet life with matching owners. The one thing we always insist on is that no breeding takes place. Young pets are logged in for neutering as soon as they are of suitable age. Pre-home checks are carried out before an adoption can go ahead, ensuring that the new family is appropriate for the animal requested and that the home provides a safe environment, for example, an escape-proof garden for dogs.

Post-adoption checks are also mandatory, with a second if felt necessary.

We have, and always will refuse to release a pet into a home we believe is unsuitable.
For example, despite fierce opposition, we blocked an adoption for a dog we knew was petrified of children. She had been badly tormented in her first home and the man would not accept that his three small and boisterous children would be a nightmare for her. She eventually went off happily with a retired couple with no children.

We are living in an era when family life is easily fractured. Divorce, redundancy, eviction and, increasingly, emigration, frequently means that pets sometimes return to us.

We have to accept that this will happen to even the best of the homes we find and one of our adoption guarantees is that we will always take our own back.

No matter how many years have passed! Some returns are much happier events. We frequently receive visits from adopted dogs and their proud owners. These are especially welcome and much appreciated by our staff.