Beautiful and roomy Sanctuary, very nice people here!! So many kitties needing forever homes. They…read morereally care for the cat's comfort it seems! When you walk in, you go past the front desk and back to the cat area, which the staff will show you and help you to get around (it can be quite a maze.) The first area is a garden with some kitties roaming freely, and there are multiple buildings all filled with adoptable kitties. I was so joyed to see that no cats were in tiny cages, they are in smallish rooms that are totally acceptable for a cat to be in and be comfortable. They have plenty of room to play, they have plenty of toys and places to sleep. I highly recommend this sanctuary.

Hope Rescue is a bit different to most rescue charities because it's primarily a 'co-ordinating'…read morerescue rather than housing the dogs themselves. Its main role is in getting dogs out of emergency situations, such as if they are going to be put to sleep unnecessarily, and Hope then works to find a suitable rescue space for them with other reputable rescue centres such as Dogs Trust and the RSPCA, as well as smaller local rescues and breed-specific rescues. Hope Rescue then also covers transportation to the dog's new rescue centre. Most of the dogs they deal with are strays from Local Authority pounds which would otherwise be put to sleep after the 7 statutory days they must be kept for. On average they move around 10 dogs a week, but at some times this can peak to as high as 25. They use boarding kennels in Llantrisant and Caerphilly to hold dogs if there is any delay in their rescue space becoming available. And although they're mainly a co-ordinating rescue, they do sometimes end up taking in dogs for rehoming themselves, if they can't secure rescue spaces - for example if the dog has a medical problem, or is very old. Obviously they have kennelling expenses as well as transportation costs to cover, so you can donate to help fund their rescue missions.

We go every year and would recommend it to anyone. Particularly recommended are the micro pigs…read more(warning: If you go when they first open in the season then there is a slight risk that the pigglets won't have been born so keep an eye on their social feeds!) and bottle feeding lambs. Plus, hedghehogs, piggie races and lovely animals to feed. Did go with an 8 year old and 7 year old, which led to one being too tall to do something he wanted (pony ride) and the other been too small (go karts) so that may be worth considering and researching but it's a wonderful spot and, as I say, we go every year!

Having met the MD of the Farm and Wildlife Centre during another function, I took the opportunity…read moreto drive over and make a quick visit. What I saw in the short time I was there was very encouraging. Would certainly recommend to others as a place of intriguing diversity and so well set up with all ages in mind. A friendly and client-focussed staff add to the overall atmosphere. A good venue for a famly visit. Trust to visit for a longer viusit at some stage. Global Nomad

Holly Hedge is a lovely little animal sanctuary just outside Bristol in the village of Barrow…read moreGurney. As you'd expect, it's full of gorgeous dogs and cats of all ages and breeds, desperate to find their forever homes after being abandoned, neglected or given up for one reason or another. I visited when I was considered rehoming a sighthound, and although I didn't end up rehoming one from this centre, I did think the place had a great atmosphere with really dedicated staff. I find it incredibly tough visiting any rescue centres - seeing all those pleading eyes stare out at me from behind bars, then walking away - but at Holly Hedge at least you really get the feeling the animals are given plenty of one-on-one attention from the staff and team of volunteers. Seems like a pretty decent place for them to spend their time until new owners come along! There are outdoor runs for the dogs, and plenty of space around the centre for on-lead walks, so the dogs get plenty of exercise. If you can't rehome one of the dogs or cats, you can help in other ways: by sponsoring an animal, dropping off a donation, or handing over some much-needed tinned dog or cat food. If you have any spare time, they often need help with fundraising or home checking, too, so it's worth getting in touch to see how you can help.

Very professional, very helpful, very friendly. Recently got our new dog Dorillo from them. A…read morepleasant experience indeed. Highly recommend. Peter and Jeannette Sutton

I have rarely felt worse in my life than when I once popped in here. My cat needed to go to the…read morevet's and I went over to pick up a suitable carrier to take him in, which they sorted no problems. However, as I was leaving, I spotted a leaflet on offer about coping with bereavement. Now, I'm not a cold-hearted person and as you know by now, I own a cat so am not immune to the charms of our furry friends. Despite this, I still found myself scoffing internally at the thought that some poor souls would actually need this type of guidance. Literally as I was considering this, God decided to deliver a massive kick up the arse as the door literally next to the leaflet stand flew open and a woman emerged crying her eyes out. Remaining behind the door as it was shut was a gorgeous golden retriever being held by a lead by the vet. I walked out immediately feeling: a) like I might break down in tears; b) amazingly guilty; and c) full of admiration for the work done here by the staff. (I'd just like to clarify, though, that I definitely didn't start crying in the end.)

Bristol Dogs & Cats Home do an amazing job. I came here looking to rescue a cat. I was especially…read moreheartbroken passing all the dogs, I'm a softie when it comes to animals, so it brought tears to my eyes seeing all the poor dogs desperate to be loved or owned, they sounded so sad :-( We attempted to rescue a cat from here, unfortunately she was not happy when she came to us and was doing us and herself harm, so we brought her back, she instantly behaved herself for the staff! Clearly they have a better touch with animals than me. My sister got a kitten from a rescue centre in Ireland and the poor mite arrived to her full of worms. Cats at Bristol Dogs and Cats home are given a thorough check-up, spayed and micro-chipped. There is also a mandatory home visit to ensure you can provide a good home.

All the poor little dogs here will break your heart. I still can't believe how some people can just…read moreabandon their animals but I know its not always that simple either. At least if the dogs end up here they have the chance of finding a nice new home. I went with my friend to visit the dog she was intending on re-homing and its a really good place. The staff to their very best to make sure you are right for the dog. You might just want the cutest one by they will match you up with the most suitable dogs for you. They had quite a few bull-dogs and staffy types so you may not instantly find the right one for you. Tedi the new dog has been a really good pet to my friend. He's had all his injections and medical check-ups so she didn't have to worry about the expense of that, and he's really lovely. I want one.

It's tough visiting a rescue centre like this. Each pair of puppy-dog eyes staring out at you from…read morebehind the bars seems to be begging you to take them away from the noise and chaos of kennels. These dogs desperately need homes. The RSPCA is severely struggling to find kennel space because there is so much demand for it - and this puts huge pressure on their resources. The staff at this rescue centre are very helpful if you have questions about particular dogs, and are keen to find suitable, well-matched homes so that the dogs are not returned to the rescue centre. I've never actually rehomed from this centre, but I have visited a couple of times hoping to find the right dog (she came along from elsewhere, in the end!). They keep the kennels clean and exercise the dogs as regularly as is possible with the numbers they're dealing with - and take on dog walking volunteers if you have any time to spare. If you do decide to rehome a dog from this centre, you will be asked to pay between about £95 and £120, depending on the age and breed of the dog.

The Secret World is first and foremost an animal rescue sanctuary, not a visitors' centre or a zoo,…read morewhich you should definitely bear in mind if you're thinking of taking children there. They run about half-a-dozen major Open Days each year- see their web site http://www.secretworld.org for more information- and those are the best days on which to go, as you'll be able to see the widest variety of all their different animals and meet several experts who can answer any questions. The main building itself is quite small but somehow they manage to pack quite a lot of different animals in there- also, the sanctuary includes a fairly large area of open grassland behind, which is a good old walk. Definitely worth a visit.

This is animal rescue centre which has open days for the public. On the open days they have events…read moresuch as 'doggy dancing' and ferrit racing which are good fun and they also do talks and bring the animals round for you to meet. It has a nice play area for children and sometimes a bouncy castle.