Goodheart Animal Sanctuaries

22/04/2025

We hope your bank holiday weekend was as relaxing as Stanley and Loki’s. ☀️🐐

Here they are, soaking up the sunshine in the Goat Village.

How did you spend yours? 💚

17/04/2025

Our herd is back out in the fields - and loving every minute of it! 🌾☀

With the sunshine making a welcome appearance today, there’s been plenty of contented grazing, exploring, and even a bit of sunbathing going on. Duncan, Danny, and Everest even came over to pose for a cheeky photo.

Our next round of TB testing is due in May, and we’re all crossing our fingers for a clear result. Until then, we’re simply enjoying watching the cows embrace sanctuary life - relaxed, free, and soaking up the peace and quiet they deserve. 💚

15/04/2025

Dudley absolutely loves his daily strolls up and down the drive with his Animal Carers.🐴✨

These walks aren’t just for fun – they’re also part of his special exercise routine. Being a Shetland, Dudley is prone to laminitis – inflammation of a certain tissue in the foot – but thanks to his special supportive shoes, he stays comfy and happy on his adventures.

He gets plenty of playtime in his paddock too, but these gentle walks around the site give him a lovely bit of extra enrichment each day. 💚

10/04/2025

One of our brilliant Level 3 Work Experience students, Keely, is taking on a fantastic fundraising challenge in support of our rescued animals here at Goodheart 💚

She’ll be braving the fastest zip line in the world and the longest in Europe at Zip World Penrhyn Quarry in Wales, reaching speeds of over 100mph! 😲

What makes this even more incredible? Keely is petrified of heights - but she’s pushing through her fear to help raise vital funds for the animals she’s grown to love during her time with us 🐷🐮🐔

Keely said: "I decided to fundraise for Goodheart because I have enjoyed my time there with the animals and realise just how much time, money and care it takes to keep Goodheart going."

Keely has already raised an amazing £119, and we’d love to help her go even further.
If you’re able to, please donate and show your support:

👉 https://www.justgiving.com/page/keely-rose-breese-1?utm_medium=FR&utm_source=SM

Let’s cheer Keely on as she zips her way towards her fundraising goal! 💚

09/04/2025

Another life lost in the name of sport 💔

A 13-year-old horse who collapsed shortly after being pulled up in Saturday’s Grand National at Aintree has tragically died.

Celebre d'Allen was the oldest horse in the field. Despite being described as fit to race, he was visibly struggling near the end of the course. Jockey Micheal Nolan has received a 10-day ban for continuing to race while the horse was clearly losing ground – but the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) has confirmed no further action will be taken.

This isn't an isolated incident. Celebre d'Allen was the second fatality at this year’s Grand National Festival – and yet the event continues to be marketed as a celebration.

Let’s be clear: no animal should be pushed to the point of collapse and death for entertainment or profit.

Grand National runner Celebre d'Allen dies aged 13 following his collapse at Aintree's final fence on Saturday.

07/04/2025

After the past few weeks, this moment felt especially meaningful – watching our cows go out into the fields after a winter in the barn. It’s always a joyful sight, but this year it feels even more precious. Seeing them run, leap, and greet their friends with such excitement reminds us why we do what we do.💚

We couldn’t help but think of Rufus – and of Jerry, Geoffrey, Elvis, and Woody – and how much they would’ve loved this moment too. Their memory lives on in every joyful gallop and contented moo. ☀🐮

03/04/2025

Duke getting the VIP (that's Very Important Pig) treatment from one of our work experience students. 🐷💚

The students have been spending the afternoon caring for our pigs, which of course involves a nice grooming session in the sunshine. Our pigs LOVE to be brushed, almost as much as they love sun bathing, so they're in heaven ☀💚

If you want to meet our pigs, don't forget to book your visit now 👇
https://www.goodheartanimalsanctuaries.com/be-part-of-it/visit-us/

01/04/2025

After our sad update about Rufus last week, we’re pleased to share some happy news – we have welcomed two new pigs to our Goodheart family – say hello to Parsnip and Momma! 🎉

Parsnip was just a few months old when he was rescued from a garden shed, where he had been kept all alone with no access to the outside world. Originally sold as a “micro pig,” he was brought into a home - but as he grew (as all pigs do!) he understandably became too destructive to keep indoors.

Momma also had a sad start to life. She was found in a shipping container, shut away without daylight or any chance to experience the outside.

Thankfully, their story took a turn for the better when a kind-hearted gentleman took them both in, giving them the space, care, and all the piggy comforts they had been denied. Under his care, they blossomed into the happy, thriving pigs they are today.
Their rescuer is now moving abroad to help set up an elephant sanctuary, but he wanted to make sure Parsnip and Momma had a safe and loving retirement home. That’s when he reached out to us - and the rest, as they say, is history!

Parsnip and Momma share a strong bond, so they’ll be staying together here at our sanctuary.

We’ll be sure to keep you updated on how they settle in! 💚

31/03/2025

Following the heart-breaking news that Rufus the cow has tested positive for TB, our site is now under certain restrictions, and so we have made the difficult decision to cancel our first Open Day on Saturday 19th July. Given the scale of the event and the number of visitors exploring the site, we feel it would not be appropriate to proceed under the current restrictions.

We remain hopeful that our second Open Day on Saturday 6th September, will go ahead, so please do save the date, and we will provide an update again in a couple of months.

We have notified all ticket holders via email, but if you have any questions, please don't hesitate to reach out.

*PLEASE NOTE* we have seen scammers on Facebook commenting on the event claiming to offer refunds. We will never offer refunds via Facebook message or comment. If in doubt, always email us directly at [email protected]

25/03/2025

Thank you so much for all of your messages, emails, and comments following our news about Rufus. We have been truly overwhelmed by the incredible support you’ve shown us. It’s clear just how much Rufus meant to you, and the memories and photos you’ve been sharing bring us so much comfort during this difficult time. 💚

It still hasn’t sunk in, and each day we find ourselves expecting to see Rufus waiting for us in the cow barn. What brings us some solace is knowing that Rufus had a wonderful life here, filled with love, care, and the freedom to be himself. We will always cherish the many happy memories we made with him at our sanctuary.

Please do continue to share your stories and photos of Rufus - we are so grateful for them 🐮💚

24/03/2025

We don’t even know where to begin with breaking this news to you all 💔

Our cows have just undergone their six-monthly TB tests, and we received a positive result for Rufus. Devastatingly, he had to be put to sleep at our sanctuary last week. We requested to have him stay on-site for this, so he could be in familiar surroundings, with our team close by, and we made sure his final moments were peaceful. Despite this, we are completely and utterly heartbroken - not just for Rufus, but for the rest of the herd who will now need to be tested again.

We lost four members of our herd last year, and while our January results came back clear, we had hoped for the same outcome this time. Nothing could have prepared us for this outcome.

Rufus, with his incredible rescue story and his beautiful bond with our supporter Ashwin, became an ambassador for his species. He started life as part of a herd being reared for beef, but the kindness of a stranger changed his fate forever, giving him a new home among our rescued herd. Over 700 people symbolically adopted Rufus, and his story touched the hearts of so many. We know how many of you were looking forward to meeting him this year, and we share in this deep loss with you.

We don’t know how to express the sadness we’re feeling, but we’re so grateful for the time we had with Rufus. We’ll hold onto the lovely memories of him experiencing the freedom of our sanctuary, and we ask that you keep our charity and team in your thoughts during this difficult time.

20/03/2025

Wherever sibling duo Shirley and Larry go, mischief is never far behind! 🐑💚

During their routine health checks, they seized the opportunity to hop into the feeder and treat themselves to the hay reserves - all while looking innocent of course!

19/03/2025

Mother’s Day is just around the corner, and if you’re looking for the perfect gift for an animal-loving mum, we’ve got you covered 🌸

We’re offering 15% off EVERYTHING in our online shop until midnight on Sunday, so you can find something special in time for Mother’s Day.

From animal adoptions to beautiful homeware like mugs and tea towels, as well as stunning prints to brighten any space, there’s something for everyone.

Use code LOVEMUM15 at checkout to claim your discount.

Shop now: https://shop.goodheartanimalsanctuaries.com/

18/03/2025

The sunshine just makes everything better, doesn't it? ☀

Our residents certainly think so! Just look at them soaking up the warmth, enjoying the sunshine on their faces - exactly as every animal should. 💚

13/03/2025

It’s dental check-up time for pony Morris 🦷

All our horses and ponies have their teeth checked once a year, but Morris, our oldest resident, has check-ups every 3 to 6 months. He’s had a few teeth removed in the past, so we like to keep a close eye on him. As always, he was a perfect patient, standing still while the vet did their work.

Each visit costs around £80-90, and it’s just one of the many ways we care for our rescued equines. If you’d like to support them, a donation - big or small - would make a real difference.

Thank you for helping us give them the care they deserve 💚

11/03/2025

True to her name, Sunny is a sun-worshipper 🌞🐷

Here she is enjoying an afternoon nap beside our woodland, dozing to the sound of birds, bees, and the occasional snoring piggy.

Sunny is one of the lucky ones. In the UK, around 10 million pigs are reared for meat each year, which means that in the time it’s taken for you to read this post, 10 more individuals have lost their lives. 💔

Every animal deserves to feel the sun on their face and the space and freedom to truly relax.

07/03/2025

A huge thank you to everyone who has donated to name our newly rescued hens! So far, you've helped raise over £100, all of which will go towards their care. 💚

We still have two lovely girls waiting for names - could you be the one to name them? If you'd like to take part, simply follow the link below to our online shop, choose your hen, and make a donation.

We'll reveal all the names next week, along with an update on how the hens are settling into their new home 💚

Name a hen here 👉 https://shop.goodheartanimalsanctuaries.com/products/name-a-rescued-chicken?variant=54974576886146

06/03/2025

If you're aged 55 or over and haven't written your Will yet, March is a great time to do so, as it's Free Wills Month. During this time, you can have a simple Will written or updated for free by participating solicitors in selected locations across the UK. 📝

While you're making these important decisions, why not consider leaving a gift to charity? For animal lovers, leaving a gift to Goodheart Animal Sanctuaries is a wonderful way to create a lasting legacy of kindness.

Gifts like these have already helped us achieve incredible things - from providing lifelong care for rescued animals to completing vital habitat projects at our sanctuary.

To learn more, and request your free guide, click the link below 👇
https://www.goodheartanimalsanctuaries.com/wills-and-legacies/