● Our Story
Meet the Residents
The Retreat wouldn’t be The Retreat without its wonderful array of residents.
All animals, like humans, are infused with such personality and character that no two chickens, ducks, turkeys, pigs, sheep or cows are alike — all have their own beautiful quirks and contain a fascinating depth.
Below, we have listed just a few of our most-loved residents.
Of course, when you come to visit the sanctuary, you will meet a great many more!
Rosa came to us in spring 2024, as an unwanted dairy calf. This is rare for a female in the dairy industry, but because of her unusual back feet (can you spot the extra toes?) the farmers didn’t want to keep her. She was cared for by our amazing surrogate mum cow, Princess, who sadly passed away in November 2024, so Rosa is now with her new adopted aunties, uncles, and siblings in our main herd.
This handsome boy called Chip was found running down a street in London. He is very aloof, and doesn’t really like interacting with people unless they’re giving him treats!
Bert is one of a pair of goats found dumped in our car park early one morning. The other lives at the back of this paddock in our delicate group. Bert is incredibly confident and affectionate. He loves people, and the other goats, and has a very sweet personality, although he is certainly one of the most dominant in the group!
Scotty lived in a flat as a piglet, and loved EastEnders! He would even come running when he heard the theme tune! He’s well known for being the most talkative of this group. He also loves drinking from the hose and will make the team water him when they’re filling up their trough!
Captain loves people, and gets hand-fed special mushy food every day. We just can’t refuse that adorable smile!
Harrison was an unwanted male dairy calf. He came to us at 2 weeks old, the day before he was scheduled to be shot. Because male cows do not produce milk, they are of no use to the dairy industry. Thankfully, Harrison is one of a small herd of male dairy calves who have grown up at The Retreat instead.
Lara is our disabled cow. She was born with a missing hoof, likely due to the umbilical cord being wrapped around it when she was a foetus. Her body has adapted remarkably, so she may look a bit 'different' with an unusual posture. Despite her missing foot, she is surprisingly mobile, and walks around the whole paddock. The sheep in her paddock are all a bit special in their own ways, too.
Goldie was born with a deformed front leg, so he walks about on his elbows (or are they knees?) instead. He runs around and plays with his best friends Vincent and George, and isn't hampered by his leg at all. He is monitored, like all our animals, and lives under the care of our vets.
Gabriel is a deaf and blind sheep. He came to us when he was only a few months old, and he copes very well in his little group. He knows where to find his bed, hay, and water, and knows where the fences are. Occasionally, he gets disoriented and knocks into a fence, so he may have a little cut on his forehead from this - but it's usually just a graze that heals in a few days!
How You Can Help These Animals…
A bale of hay provides ample nutrition for many of our animals here at The Retreat. Support us by donating its cost!
F10 ointment is a vital germicidal barrier that helps to keep our animals healthy by keeping sores and wounds clean and free from infection. It’s one of the many hidden costs of rescuing animals!
Our chickens and ducks are hungry little birds! Putting £15 aside for us to feed our flock is such a kind thing to do — if you’re lucky, you’ll get a few grateful pecks from our birds next time you visit us.